What changes the size of stores

Question 1

What is evaporation?

Answer 1

• Happens when heat from the sun causes water to change into a gas, water vapour.
• This water is absorbed by the air.
• The warm air rises and contains the water molecules which makes room for more.

Question 2

What is evapotranspiration?

Answer 2

• Heat causes water to be lost through plant stomata, the water is transferred into the air as water vapour.

Question 3

What factors affect the process of cloud formation?

Answer 3

• Temperature, more solar energy speeds up the processes and warmer air holds more water.
• Wind, moves air which is currently holding water therefore creating more room for water.
• Humidity, the more moisture already in the air the less it can hold through these processes.
• Climate variations, when its hotter more evaporation and evapotranspiration can take place due to higher levels of solar energy. (seasons)
• The amount of water available.

Question 4

What is condensation?

Answer 4

• This is when water vapour condenses back into a liquid.
• As the air rises it cools so cannot hold as much water vapour, therefore water droplets begin to form around condensation nuclei.
• When the air can no longer hold the condensed water and the water droplets have grown due to collision. It falls as precipitation.

Question 5

What is convectional rainfall?

Answer 5

• The earth is heated by the sun, as the earth warms it gives off heat and warms the air above it.
• As the warm air rises it cools and the water vapour condenses.
• Process continues until water droplets become too heavy and it falls as rain. Usually produces heavy rainfall.

Question 6

What is relief/orographic rainfall?

Answer 6

• Air picks up moisture as it travels across the oceans.
• When the air reaches the coast its forced to rises over physical barriers. This forces the air to cool and condense.
• Air drops moisture as relief rain, over the other side of the physical barrier it warms so this side receives little rain. Known as the rain shadow.

Question 7

What is frontal rainfall?

Answer 7

• Two air masses meet, one air mass and one cool air mass.
• The lighter warm air rises over the dense cool air.
• This causes the warm air to cool and as it rises higher condensation occurs.
• This causes the water droplets to fall as precipitation.

Question 8

How long does the process of cloud formation usually take?

Answer 8

Cloud formation usually takes place over several hours. depending on the conditions such as how much evaporation is taking place.

Question 9

How long does water stay in different stores?

Answer 9

• Rivers = 2-6 months
  Water is continually moving, also affected by seasonal changes.
• Lakes = 50-100 years
  Stationary, only has outputs if used by humans.
• Soil moisture = 1-2 months
  Seasonal rain and increased plant growth in summer.
• Shallow groundwater = 100-200 years
  Extremely slow transfer, may be extracted through boreholes.
• Deep groundwater = 10,000 years
  Only used through boreholes no other escape. May be affected by climate change.
• Glacier = 20-100 years
  Affected by seasonal changes, melts in summer.
• Seasonal snow cover = 2-6 months
  Only during winter, melts in the summer. Climate change will affect amount and length of time its on the ground.