Water and Carbon Cycle 2

What are the key components of a system in physical geography?

Inputs, outputs, energy, stores/components, flows/transfers, feedback, dynamic equilibrium.

What is the definition of a dynamic equilibrium in a natural system?

A balanced state where inputs equal outputs over time despite short-term fluctuations.

What is positive feedback in the context of the water and carbon cycles?

Positive feedback amplifies changes within a system (A) e.g. melting ice reduces

albedo and increases warming.

What is negative feedback in the context of the water and carbon cycles?

Negative feedback resists changes and restores balance (A) e.g. increased CO₂

boosts photosynthesis.

What are the major water stores on Earth?

Atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere.

What are the processes driving changes in the magnitude of water stores?

Evaporation, condensation, cloud formation, precipitation, cryospheric processes.

What are the four spheres where water is stored globally?

Lithosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, atmosphere.

Hydrosphere

Any liquid water

Lithosphere

Water stored in the crust and upper mantle

Cryosphere

Any water that’s frozen

Atmosphere

Water vapour

What is the process of condensation?

Water vapour cools and changes into liquid droplets forming clouds

What is the process of evaporation?

Water changes from liquid to vapour due to heat energy.

What is cloud formation and how does it occur?

Rising air cools, condenses and forms clouds.

What are the causes of precipitation?

Condensed water droplets grow heavy and fall due to gravity.

What are cryospheric processes and where do they occur?

Freezing, accumulation, and ablation in glaciers and polar areas.

What is a drainage basin?

The area of land drained by a river and its tributaries.

What are the main inputs and outputs of a drainage basin?

Inputs: precipitation. Outputs: evapotranspiration, runoff.

What is meant by interception storage?

Water held on leaves and branches before reaching ground.

What is soil water storage?

Water held in unsaturated soil pores.

What is groundwater storage?

Water stored in rocks underground.

What is channel storage?

Water held in the river channel.

Define stemflow.

Water flowing down plant stems during rainfall

Define infiltration.

Water soaking into the soil.

Define overland flow.

Water flowing over the land surface.

Define channel flow.

Water moving within the river channel.

What is the water balance?

Balance between precipitation, evapotranspiration and runoff.

What causes variation in runoff?

Seasonal rainfall, snowmelt, storms, urbanisation.

What is a flood hydrograph?

A graph showing river discharge over time following rainfall.

How do storm events impact the water cycle?

Increase runoff, reduce infiltration, raise flood risk.

How do seasonal changes affect the water cycle?

Snowmelt, plant growth and rainfall variation change stores.

How do farming practices influence the water cycle?

Compaction, irrigation and drainage alter infiltration and evapotranspiration.

How does land use change impact the water cycle?

Deforestation, urbanisation reduce infiltration and increase runoff.

What is water abstraction?

Extraction of groundwater or surface water by humans.

What are the major carbon stores on Earth?

Atmosphere, biosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere.

What are the main processes driving changes in carbon stores?

Photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, combustion, weathering, sequestration.

What is photosynthesis?

Plants absorb CO₂ and convert it to glucose using sunlight.

What is respiration in the carbon cycle?

Organisms release CO₂ when breaking down glucose for energy.

What is decomposition?

Breakdown of dead matter releasing carbon to soil and atmosphere.

What is combustion?

Burning of organic matter releasing CO₂.

What is carbon sequestration?

Carbon is captured and stored in oceans, plants or sediments.

What is weathering and how does it affect the carbon cycle?

Breakdown of rocks releasing or storing carbon.

What natural events cause changes in the carbon cycle?

Wildfires, volcanic activity release large volumes of carbon.

What human activities influence the carbon cycle?

Fossil fuel use, deforestation, farming practices, land use change.

What is the carbon budget?

Balance of inputs and outputs of carbon in Earth’s systems.

How does the carbon cycle affect the land?

Changes soil fertility, vegetation and weathering rates.

How does the carbon cycle affect the ocean?

Affects ocean acidity and biological productivity.

How does the carbon cycle affect the atmosphere?

Controls levels of greenhouse gases and influences climate.

What role do carbon and water cycles play in supporting life?

Regulate temperature, provide water, enable ecosystems.

How are the water and carbon cycles interlinked in the atmosphere?

Water vapour and CO₂ interact to influence temperature.

What is a feedback loop between water and carbon cycles?

Warming increases evaporation and CO₂ release, amplifying change.

How can feedbacks link to climate change?

Feedbacks can accelerate or reduce climate change effects.

What is a human intervention that attempts to mitigate climate change by influencing the carbon cycle?

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) or afforestation.

What is meant by simple mass balance?

The total inputs must equal total outputs in a closed system.

What is an example of a unit conversion relevant to the water or carbon cycle?

Converting mm of rainfall to m³ volume (e.g. 1mm = 1L/m²).

What field data skills are needed to analyse the water and carbon cycles?

Observation, data recording, unit conversions, simple statistics.

How does precipitation impact stores and transfers in a river catchment?

Affects flow rates, storage volumes and timing of transfers.

What implications do drainage basin changes have for sustainable water supply?

Determines availability of water for human and ecological use.

What implications do drainage basin changes have for flooding?

High flows increase flood risk, especially with land use changes.