, ENQUIRY QUESTION I
WHAT ARE THE PROCESSES OPERATING WITHIN THE
HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE FROM GLOBAL TO LOCAL SCALE?
2
,5.1 THE GLOBAL HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE IS OF ENORMOUS
IMPORTANCE TO LIFE ON EARTH
STORES Reservoirs where water is held
PROCESSES/TRANSFERS Transfer of water between stores
FLUXES Rate of flow between stores
STORE RESIDENCE TIME
Ocean (96.9%) 3,600 years
Icecaps (1.9%) 15,000 years depending on size
Groundwater (1.1%) Up to 10,000 years for deep groundwater;
100-200 years for shallow groundwater
Rivers and lakes 2 weeks to 10 years; 50 years for very large
scale
Soil moisture 2-50 weeks
Atmospheric moisture 10 days
TRANSFERS / FLOWS
Precipitation
Evaporation
Transpiration
Through flow
Groundwater flow
Surface run-off
Percolation
Condensation
Vapour transport
BLUE WATER Water stored in rivers, streams, lakes and
groundwater in liquid form (the visible part
of the hydrological cycle).
GREEN WATER Water stored in the soil and vegetation (the
invisible part of the hydrological cycle).
3
, 4
WHAT ARE THE PROCESSES OPERATING WITHIN THE
HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE FROM GLOBAL TO LOCAL SCALE?
2
,5.1 THE GLOBAL HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE IS OF ENORMOUS
IMPORTANCE TO LIFE ON EARTH
STORES Reservoirs where water is held
PROCESSES/TRANSFERS Transfer of water between stores
FLUXES Rate of flow between stores
STORE RESIDENCE TIME
Ocean (96.9%) 3,600 years
Icecaps (1.9%) 15,000 years depending on size
Groundwater (1.1%) Up to 10,000 years for deep groundwater;
100-200 years for shallow groundwater
Rivers and lakes 2 weeks to 10 years; 50 years for very large
scale
Soil moisture 2-50 weeks
Atmospheric moisture 10 days
TRANSFERS / FLOWS
Precipitation
Evaporation
Transpiration
Through flow
Groundwater flow
Surface run-off
Percolation
Condensation
Vapour transport
BLUE WATER Water stored in rivers, streams, lakes and
groundwater in liquid form (the visible part
of the hydrological cycle).
GREEN WATER Water stored in the soil and vegetation (the
invisible part of the hydrological cycle).
3
, 4
