Physical Geography, The Water cycle and water insecurity, Revision Questions and Answers Graded A+

Physical Geography, The Water cycle and water insecurity, Revision Questions and Answers Graded A+ What is meant by a store and a flow? - ANSWER-A store is were water is held for varying amounts of 'residence' time. A flow is the movement of between stores Identify the three largest stores in size order. - ANSWER-The oceans, icecaps and glaciers, and groundwater. Which TWO water stores are non-renewable, and why? - ANSWER-Fossil water: old, deep groundwater from former wetter periods. Losses from the cryosphere: melting of ice as a result of global warming Distinguish between blue and green water. - ANSWER-Blue water is stored in rivers, lakes and groundwater in liquid form — a visible part of the hydrological cycle. Green water is water stored in the soil and vegetation — an invisible part of the hydrological cycle. Why is the global hydrological cycle a closed system? - ANSWER-There are no external inputs and outputs. It is a self-contained entity. Some might argue solar energy, which drives the cycle, is an input. What is the water budget, and why does it vary from place to place? - ANSWER-The water budget of a place is the difference between the amount of water gained from precipitation and the amount lost as a result of evapotranspiration. The budget is in surplus when precipitation exceeds evapotranspiration. It is in deficit when the situation is reversed. It varies from place to place because climate (precipitation and temperature) does. What are the main inputs of a drainage basin system? - ANSWER-Precipitation. Also possibly water from a tributary basin. What are the main outputs of the drainage basin? - ANSWER-Evaporation, transpiration and river discharge. How does relief affect the inputs and outputs of a drainage basin? - ANSWER-Altitude will affect the precipitation input (orographic rain or snow). The steepness of slopes will affect the rate of runoff — the steeper the slope, the faster the rate. Distinguish between interception and infiltration. - ANSWER-Interception is the process by which water is stored in the vegetation. Infiltration is the process by which water soaks into, or is absorbed by the soil. How does geology affect the flows in a drainage basin? - ANSWER-Geology affects the balance of the flows by which precipitation reaches a river. Where the geology is hard and impermeable (e.g. granite), there will be much surface runoff and relatively little infiltration and percolation. Where rock is porous, then the balance will be the reverse with little runoff and much percolation and water reaching the river via through flow and groundwater flow.