ALL OF WATER AND CARBON
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_evbb7v
these have no interaction with anything outside the system bound-
isolated systems
ary. There is no input or output of energy or matter.
these have transfers of energy both into and beyond the system
closed systems
boundary but no transfer of matter.
both energy and matter are transferred from the system to the
open systems
surrounding environment.
dynamic equilibrium balance between inputs and outputs in the system.
cascading system open systems which form a chain (earths 4 spheres)
Where the effects of the action are amplified by secondary effects
E.g. Global temperature rises -> warms the oceans -> increased
positive feedback and example oceanic temps -> warm water is less able to dissolve gas ->
dissolved co2 released into atmosphere -> more co2 warms at-
mosphere (greenhouse effect)
Where the effects of the action are nullified by its secondary effects
E.g. Increased atmospheric co2 -> global temp rises -> increased
negative feedback and example
plant growth -> increased uptake of co2 -> reduces atmospheric
co2
what are the stores of water atmosphere, lithosphere, cryosphere and hydrosphere
Oceanic water Contains 97% of Earth's water
Cryosphere Includes sea ice, ice caps, permafrost, ice sheets, glaciers
Terrestrial water Includes surface water, groundwater, soil water, biological water
Dependent on solar energy, water availability, humidity, and air
Evaporation
temperature
Water balance Balance between inputs and outputs in a drainage basin
inputs in a drainage basin precipitation
Overland flow
Channel flow
Throughflow
Stemflow
transfers in a drainage basin
Infiltration
Percolation
Ground water flow
Outputs
Lakes and surface water
River channels
stores in a drainage basin Interception from plants
Soil water
Ground water
Evaporation and transpiration from vegetation
Evaporation from water surfaces
outputs in a drainage basin
Run off from rivers
Evaporation from sea
Precipitation (P) = discharge (Q) + evapotranspiration (E) +/-
formulae for water balance/budget
changes in storage (S)
Run off is studied by measuring discharge of a river. Discharge is
Run-off variation
the volume of water passing a point in a given time.
Bank full Maximum discharge without flooding in a river channel
Normal day-to-day river discharge from soil throughflow and
Base flow
groundwater
Lag time Time between peak rainfall and peak discharge
Storm flow Discharge from storm precipitation involving various flows
Storm hydrograph
1/8
, ALL OF WATER AND CARBON
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_evbb7v
Is the graph of discharge of a river leading up to and following a
storm or rainfall event.
Defined as the variability in its discharge throughout the course of
a year in responses to precipitation, temperature, evapotranspi-
ration and drainage basin characteristics.
River regimes
Flashy flood Flood with short lag time, high peak discharge, steep limbs
Shape/size of drainage basin More circular shape = flashy hy-
drographs because each point in the drainage basin is roughly
equidistant from the measuring point on the river. Steep sides of
drainage basin = flashy hydrographs. Water flows more quickly
on steep slopes. High drainage density = flashy hydrographs.
Drainage density if the number of surface streams acting as tribu-
taries to the main river. All the water arrives at the measuring point
at the same time. Larger drainage basin catch more precipitation
so have a higher peak discharge than smaller drainage basins.
Smaller drainage basins generally have a shorter lag time as
precipitation does not have to travel as far.
Conditions prior to storm event Higher saturation due to an-
tecedent rainfall = flashy hydrograph. Overland flow increases
-> infiltration capacity reached -> transfers quicker -> Lag time
physical factors which determine the type and shape of flood reduced.
hydrograph
Rock type of drainage basin Impermeable rock = flashy flood.
Throughflow and infiltration reduced and surface run off is in-
creased.
Vegetation cover Less vegetation = flashy flood. Vegetation inter-
cepts precipitation, holding water in its leaves, slows the move-
ment of rainwater and surface run off into river channels.
Intensity and type of precipitation Heavier storms = more likely to
have flashy flood. Higher volume of water entering the drainage
basin over a short period of time. Rain = flashier flood. This is
because snow takes time to melt = increases lag time.
2/8
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_evbb7v
these have no interaction with anything outside the system bound-
isolated systems
ary. There is no input or output of energy or matter.
these have transfers of energy both into and beyond the system
closed systems
boundary but no transfer of matter.
both energy and matter are transferred from the system to the
open systems
surrounding environment.
dynamic equilibrium balance between inputs and outputs in the system.
cascading system open systems which form a chain (earths 4 spheres)
Where the effects of the action are amplified by secondary effects
E.g. Global temperature rises -> warms the oceans -> increased
positive feedback and example oceanic temps -> warm water is less able to dissolve gas ->
dissolved co2 released into atmosphere -> more co2 warms at-
mosphere (greenhouse effect)
Where the effects of the action are nullified by its secondary effects
E.g. Increased atmospheric co2 -> global temp rises -> increased
negative feedback and example
plant growth -> increased uptake of co2 -> reduces atmospheric
co2
what are the stores of water atmosphere, lithosphere, cryosphere and hydrosphere
Oceanic water Contains 97% of Earth's water
Cryosphere Includes sea ice, ice caps, permafrost, ice sheets, glaciers
Terrestrial water Includes surface water, groundwater, soil water, biological water
Dependent on solar energy, water availability, humidity, and air
Evaporation
temperature
Water balance Balance between inputs and outputs in a drainage basin
inputs in a drainage basin precipitation
Overland flow
Channel flow
Throughflow
Stemflow
transfers in a drainage basin
Infiltration
Percolation
Ground water flow
Outputs
Lakes and surface water
River channels
stores in a drainage basin Interception from plants
Soil water
Ground water
Evaporation and transpiration from vegetation
Evaporation from water surfaces
outputs in a drainage basin
Run off from rivers
Evaporation from sea
Precipitation (P) = discharge (Q) + evapotranspiration (E) +/-
formulae for water balance/budget
changes in storage (S)
Run off is studied by measuring discharge of a river. Discharge is
Run-off variation
the volume of water passing a point in a given time.
Bank full Maximum discharge without flooding in a river channel
Normal day-to-day river discharge from soil throughflow and
Base flow
groundwater
Lag time Time between peak rainfall and peak discharge
Storm flow Discharge from storm precipitation involving various flows
Storm hydrograph
1/8
, ALL OF WATER AND CARBON
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_evbb7v
Is the graph of discharge of a river leading up to and following a
storm or rainfall event.
Defined as the variability in its discharge throughout the course of
a year in responses to precipitation, temperature, evapotranspi-
ration and drainage basin characteristics.
River regimes
Flashy flood Flood with short lag time, high peak discharge, steep limbs
Shape/size of drainage basin More circular shape = flashy hy-
drographs because each point in the drainage basin is roughly
equidistant from the measuring point on the river. Steep sides of
drainage basin = flashy hydrographs. Water flows more quickly
on steep slopes. High drainage density = flashy hydrographs.
Drainage density if the number of surface streams acting as tribu-
taries to the main river. All the water arrives at the measuring point
at the same time. Larger drainage basin catch more precipitation
so have a higher peak discharge than smaller drainage basins.
Smaller drainage basins generally have a shorter lag time as
precipitation does not have to travel as far.
Conditions prior to storm event Higher saturation due to an-
tecedent rainfall = flashy hydrograph. Overland flow increases
-> infiltration capacity reached -> transfers quicker -> Lag time
physical factors which determine the type and shape of flood reduced.
hydrograph
Rock type of drainage basin Impermeable rock = flashy flood.
Throughflow and infiltration reduced and surface run off is in-
creased.
Vegetation cover Less vegetation = flashy flood. Vegetation inter-
cepts precipitation, holding water in its leaves, slows the move-
ment of rainwater and surface run off into river channels.
Intensity and type of precipitation Heavier storms = more likely to
have flashy flood. Higher volume of water entering the drainage
basin over a short period of time. Rain = flashier flood. This is
because snow takes time to melt = increases lag time.
2/8
