4.1 Water Systems (DP IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS): SL): Flashcards
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- FrontHydrological Cycle
What two forces drive the movement of water in the hydrosphere?
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Cards in this collection (34)
What two forces drive the movement of water in the hydrosphere?
Gravity and solar radiation drive the movement of water in the hydrosphere.
Roughly what percentage of Earth's water stores is fresh water?
Roughly 2.5% of Earth's water stores is fresh water.
Of the Earth's fresh water, approximately % is stored in glaciers and ice sheets.
Of the Earth's fresh water, approximately 69% is stored in glaciers and ice sheets.
True or False?
The global hydrological cycle is an open system.
False.
The global hydrological cycle is a closed system.
Define evaporation.
Evaporation is the process by which liquid water changes into water vapour and enters the atmosphere from water bodies.
Define transpiration.
Transpiration is the process by which plants absorb water through their roots and release it as vapour through stomata in their leaves.
Which single term describes the combined process of evaporation from the Earth's surface and transpiration by plants?
Evapotranspiration describes the combined process of evaporation and transpiration.
Define sublimation.
Sublimation is the direct transition of water from a solid state to a vapour state without melting first.
Define condensation.
Condensation is the process by which water vapour transforms into liquid water, such as clouds or dew, as it cools.
True or False?
Infiltration and percolation describe the same process in the hydrological cycle.
False.
Percolation happens after water has already infiltrated the soil, moving further down towards groundwater.
Define infiltration.
Infiltration is the process of water seeping into the soil from the surface.
Define percolation.
Percolation is the downward movement of water through soil and rock layers, eventually reaching aquifers or groundwater.
What is the difference between a "transformation" flow and a "transfer" flow in the hydrological cycle?
A transformation changes the state of water, while a transfer moves water from one location to another without changing its state.
Which flow describes the wind-blown movement of water vapour or clouds?
Advection describes the wind-blown movement of water vapour or clouds.
Which flow describes the movement of water in rivers and streams towards oceans or lakes?
Streamflow describes the movement of water in rivers and streams towards oceans or lakes.
Which flow describes water moving through pores and spaces in underground soil and rock layers?
Groundwater flow describes water moving through pores and spaces in underground soil and rock layers.
Surface run-off typically occurs when the ground is saturated or , leading to excess water flowing over the surface.
Surface run-off typically occurs when the ground is saturated or impermeable, leading to excess water flowing over the surface.
What are the three main human activities that alter the hydrological cycle's flows and stores?
The three main activities are agriculture (irrigation), deforestation and urbanisation.
How does increased irrigation affect evapotranspiration rates?
Increased irrigation artificially raises evapotranspiration, as more water is supplied to plants than would occur naturally.
How can the increased evapotranspiration caused by irrigation affect local rainfall patterns?
It raises atmospheric moisture, which can increase precipitation downwind of irrigated areas.
True or False?
Excessive irrigation always improves the soil's ability to absorb water, reducing surface run-off.
False.
Excessive irrigation applies water faster than the soil can absorb it, increasing surface run-off.
How do forests help maintain groundwater recharge?
Forests act like natural sponges, absorbing rainfall and facilitating infiltration.
True or False?
Deforestation increases evapotranspiration rates.
False.
Deforestation reduces evapotranspiration, as there is less transpiration and evaporation once trees are removed.
Why does surface run-off increase significantly after deforestation?
Without tree canopy and vegetation to intercept and slow rainfall, more water reaches the ground surface.
Urbanisation replaces permeable surfaces with surfaces, such as concrete and asphalt.
Urbanisation replaces permeable surfaces with impermeable surfaces, such as concrete and asphalt.
How do impermeable urban surfaces affect groundwater recharge?
They prevent infiltration, so rainfall quickly becomes surface run-off instead of recharging groundwater.
What is the urban heat island effect, and how does it affect the hydrological cycle?
The urban heat island effect is higher urban temperatures caused by concentrated buildings and paved surfaces, which increase evaporation rates.
True or False?
Efficient urban drainage systems reduce the risk of downstream flooding by slowing surface run-off.
False.
Urban drainage systems accelerate surface run-off, which can overload natural water bodies and cause downstream flooding.
Define the steady state of a water body.
A water body is in a steady state when its inputs and outputs are balanced, keeping its water level constant over time.
Name three inputs shown on a water body's flow diagram.
Inputs include precipitation, surface run-off and groundwater inflow.
Name three outputs shown on a water body's flow diagram.
Outputs include evaporation, river outflow and groundwater outflow.
Define sustainable water harvesting.
Sustainable water harvesting is taking water from a water body at a rate that does not exceed the rate of natural replenishment.
What happens to a water body's size if its total outputs exceed its total inputs?
The water body will decrease in size.
In the unsustainable aquifer example, outputs of 250 units against inputs of 150 units created a water deficit of units.
In the unsustainable aquifer example, outputs of 250 units against inputs of 150 units created a water deficit of 100 units.
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