lec 8 global hydrological cycle

all of earth's water originally formed in

space, arriving during Earth's formation

vast majority of earth's water is held in

ocean reservoir

precipitation is condensation under

gravitational pull - falls to earth from point of formation in the atmosphere

transpiration

conversion of liquid to vapor by plants, major freshwater mover

flying rivers

systems from significant plant transpiration which bring moisture over large areas through wind currents

cloud seeding by plants

chemicals released which can locally produce clouds and precipitation if there are enough plants in one place

movement of runoff

all water falling on land must eventually drain into the ocean reservoir

residence time =

reservoir volume / flow rate

difference in renewability depends on

residence times (longer = not easily renewable)

global energy transfer

atmospheric transfer of heat through circulation cells and surface winds, oceanic as well with thermohaline circulation

nutrient transfer through

rainfall-driven chemical weathering and transport

biomes defined by

availability of terrestrial surface freshwater