1
1 mark
State the primary force driving the hydrological cycle.
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Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2024
First exams 2026
Water Systems (DP IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS): HL): Exam Questions
1 hour28 questions
2
3 marks
Complete the following sentences using the three figures provided below:
Freshwater makes up approximately ___ of the Earth’s water storages. The remaining water is saline.
Of this freshwater, approximately ___ is stored in the ground as groundwater. Most of the remaining water is locked up in the planet's glaciers and polar ice caps.
Of the remaining accessible, liquid surface freshwater, approximately ___ is found in the planet's rivers.
Figures:
1%
3%
30%
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3
2 marks
Outline what is meant by the term surface run-off.
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4
2 marks
Explain how surface run-off is generally affected by agriculture.
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5
1 mark
Define aquifer.
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6
3 marks
Define the term carbon sequestration.
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7
2 marks
Briefly outline what is meant by the term thermohaline circulation.
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8
1 mark
State one reason why deeper ocean layers can have low oxygen levels.
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9
1 mark
Briefly outline one factor that contributes to ocean stratification.
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10
3 marks
Define the term upwelling.
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1
3 marks
List three stores in the hydrological cycle.
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2
4 marks
Identify and describe two flows within the hydrological cycle.
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3a
2 marks
The figure below shows the hydrological cycle.
State the name of process G and process H.
3b
1 mark
State what causes the water vapour to condense and form clouds?
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4
2 marks
Outline what is meant by the term thermohaline circulation.
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5
2 marks
The data in the table below shows the relative volumes of water transferred through each part of the water cycle annually.
Process | Quantity of water transported in 1 000 km3 yr-1 |
Evaporation | 423 |
Transpiration | 153 |
Precipitation | 515 |
Percolation | 72 |
Calculate the percentage of the total water transferred that falls through precipitation.
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6
2 marks
Briefly describe how urbanisation causes the reduction of two storage components in the hydrological cycle.
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7
3 marks
Explain how upwelling zones support high biodiversity.
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8
4 marks
Outline the role of the thermocline in water stratification.
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9
1 mark
Identify the property or properties (A, B, C) explain the ability of water to dissolve solutes.
Property A: Polarity of water molecules
Property B: High specific heat capacity of water
Property C: Hydrogen bonding
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10
1 mark
The high specific heat capacity of water is of great biological significance to organisms.
State one example of how this property is biologically important.
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11
2 marks
Compare and contrast the terms adhesion and cohesion in the context of water molecules.
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12
1 mark
The diagram shows a pond skater (or water strider).
Certain small animals such as pond skaters and fisher spiders can walk across bodies of water without breaking the surface.
Use your knowledge of water's properties to suggest how detergent pollution contaminating ponds and lakes can have a detrimental effect on these small animals.
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13
3 marks
Describe how carbon dioxide enters the ocean and leads to ocean acidification.
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1
7 marks
Explain the processes of energy transfer occurring within the oceans.
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2
7 marks
Explain the concept of dynamic equilibrium in relation to the hydrological cycle.
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3
9 marks
Discuss how human activities impact stores and flows in the hydrological cycle.
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4
7 marks
Explain how changes in ocean temperature and salinity influence the global thermohaline circulation.
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5
9 marks
Discuss the global significance of thermohaline circulation in regulating climate and supporting marine productivity.
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