Water Cycle Flashcards

1
Q

5 Stores of Water

A
Cryosphere (2/3)
Atmosphere (0.04%)
Lithosphere (1.7%)
Terrestrial (includes biosphere) (30%)
Oceanic
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2
Q

Process of Condensation

A

Air cools, holds less water vapour
Dew point temperature
Water vapour loses energy to surroundings
Condensation nuclei needed

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3
Q

When does condensation occur?

A

Volume of air increases but no heat is added

Temperature of air reduces below dew point but volume remains constant

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4
Q

Process of Evaporation

A

Water uses energy from surroundings, latent heat, to become a gas

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5
Q

What does rate of evaporation depend on?

A

Amount of solar energy
Air temperature
Humidity of air (rate decreases close to saturation)
Availability of water

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6
Q

Cloud Formation

A
Evaporation
Convection 
Air expands as it rises- lower pressure of atmosphere
Saturation- dew point temperature 
Condensation 
When too heavy, precipitation occurs
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7
Q

3 way cloud formation begins

A

Topography- air forced to rise over hills

Sun’s energy heats ground- latent heat

Warm air meets cold air- warm air rises

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8
Q

Input in the Drainage Basin System

A

Precipitation

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9
Q

Flows/ Transfers in Drainage Basin System

A
Interception 
Stem Flow
Surface Runoff
Infiltration 
Through Flow
Percolation 
Channel Flow
Ground Water Flow
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10
Q

Storage in Drainage Basin System

A
Surface Storage
Soil Water Storage 
Channel Storage
Groundwater Storage
Vegetation Storage
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11
Q

Outputs in Drainage Basin System

A

Transpiration
Evaporation
River Runoff

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12
Q

Water Balance Equation

A

P = Q + E + ΔS

P= Precipitation
Q= Runoff 
E= Potential Evapotranspiration 
ΔS= Change in Groundwater Storage
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13
Q

P > Q + E

A

Positive water balance

ΔS increases

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14
Q

P < Q + E

A

Negative water balance

ΔS decreases

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15
Q

Natural factors impacting shape of a storm hydrograph

A

Size of drainage basin
Topography
Rock and soil type

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16
Q

Human factors impacting shape of a storm hydrograph

A
Agriculture 
Water abstraction 
Urbanisation 
Deforestation 
Water management strategies
17
Q

Natural factors impacting the water cycle as a whole

A

Storms and precipitation
Seasonality
El Nino
Droughts

18
Q

Human factors impacting the water cycle as a whole

A

Agriculture
Deforestation
Urbanisation
Water abstraction

19
Q

Through Flow

A

Downslope movement of water through the soil (roughly parallel to ground)

20
Q

Infiltration

A

Water soaking into the soils

21
Q

Percolation

A

Water moving down into the water table

22
Q

Groundwater Flow

A

Very slow, horizontal movement of water through rock

23
Q

River Regime

A

Variability in a rivers discharge throughout the course of a year

24
Q

What can influence a rivers regime?

A

Temperature
Precipitation
Drainage basin characteristics

25
Q

Flashy Hydrograph

A

Short lag time

High peak discharge

26
Q

Subdued Hydrograph

A

Long lag time

Lower peak discharge

27
Q

How does the size of a drainage basin impact the hydrograph?

A
Large = increased peak discharge 
Small = decreased lag time
28
Q

How does topography impact the hydrograph?

A

Steep = lag time reduced

29
Q

How does rock and soil type impact the hydrograph?

A

Impermeable rock = increased run off = increased peak discharge

30
Q

How does seasonality impact the water cycle?

A

Winter- ground freezes, impermeable + ice melt = large output
Reduced input of precipitation in summer
Less vegetation in winter = decreased interception and decreased store
More vegetation in summer = increased evapotranspiration and root uptake so peak discharge decreases

31
Q

How does El Niño impact the water cycle?

A

Causes droughts
Decreased precipitation
Decreased global evapotranspiration

32
Q

How does agriculture impact the water cycle?

A

Ploughing increases infiltration

Crops increase interception and evaptranspiration

33
Q

How does deforestation impact the water cycle?

A

Decreases interception
Decreases biospheric water store
Sedimentation of river channel- decreases bank full capacity

34
Q

How does urbanisation impact the water cycle?

A

Increased impermeable surfaces increases runoff

Drainage systems decrease lag time

35
Q

How does water abstraction impact the water cycle?

A

Less reliable rivers
Decreased ground water and surface stores (particularly in dry seasons)
Ground water level decreased by 7m in London since 2000, due to population increase