The water and carbon cycle notes

the earth’s water is stored in 4 major systems: the lithosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere and atmosphere. It is in a state of dynamic equilibrium

The hydrosphere contains all water in or near the earths surface which can be divided into the 3 other stores listed (umbrella term (sort of ). It holds 97% of the earth’s water which the majority of is held in the pacific ocean

the cryosphere contains the water on the earths surface in solid form. The cryosphere holds 1.72% of the earth’s water

the lithosphere is all of the earth’s crust, the semi solid land under this and the liquid land beneath that. It is a water store which holds 0.75% of all the earths water

The atmosphere stores the water in the form of water vapour and is the main vector that moves water arounf the globe, yet contains only 0.001% of the earth’s water.

Open system- transfers of energy and matter

Closed system- transfer of energy not matter

The global water cycle is a closed system as there is no new water, as it all circulates through the 4 main stores, where an output from one store is and input in the next

Negative feedback is where the initial change lead to a number of other linked changes, but eventually the whole system stabilisers again and the original change is void

Positive feedback is where the initial change, leads to a number of other links which lead to a greater, permanent deviation from the original condition, and this original change is amplified

Clouds- suspended accumulations of tiny water droplets, formed when there is too much water vapour for the air to hold so it condenses

Insolation- incoming solar radiation from the sun to the earth

Humidity is the measure of the concentration of water vapour in the air

Latent heat is the energy absorbed or released by a substance during a change in its physical state (liquid, solid or gas)

Dew point temperature is the point at which air becomes saturated and can no longer hold water vapour, condensation occurs ,converting water vapour into water droplets

condensation nuclei are tiny particles in the air on which condensation can occur (smoke , salt, dust, pollutants e.c.t..)

Accumulation is the build up of ice mass, this is a cryospheric process

Ablation is the loss of ice mass, this is a cysopheric process

Evapotranspiration is the combined water gain to the atmosphere of evaporation and transpiration