changes to water cycle

What are the natural impacts

1. Seasonal changes

2. Storm events

3. Droughts

4. Cryosphere processes

Explain seasonal changes

In winter:

• deciduous trees lose leaves = less interception, more infiltration/precipitation, more surface run off

• Frozen grounds = more impermeable = more surface run off

• Less evapotranspiration

Explain storm events

• large amounts of rainfall

• Enough to saturate the ground

• Lots of surface run off, no more can infiltrate

Explain droughts

Major stores depleted, flows decreased

Explain cryosphere processes

Glaciers, ice caps melt = sea level rise

Explain human impacts

1. Agriculture

2. Urbanisation, green roofs/suds

3. Deforestation, afforestation

4. Water abstraction

Explain deforestation

1. Less trees = less interception, more infiltration, more surface run off

2. Less evapotranspiration

3. Less plants, soil wont be binded by , more loose = soil water storage decreases, vulnerable to erosion

Explain agriculture

Pastoral farming = livestock tramping on the ground = more impermeable

Explain urbanisation

More buildings and roofs = more impermeable surfaces…

Green roofs and SUDs = less impermeable surfaces, reduce flood risk

What are SUDs

Sustainable urban drainage systems

Explain water abstraction

Removal of water from stores for human use

• reduced volume of water stores

• Increase in dry season