Wc11 - factors affecting changes in the water cycle

• how do natural variations affect stores and transfers in the water cycle?


  -drought reduces water stored in rivers and lakes

  -vegetation destruction reduces transpiration, interception and infiltration

  -heat waves increase rate of evapotranspiration and reduce soil water storage
• how do seasonal changes affect stores and transfers in the water cycle?


  winter

  -higher levels of precipitation -> increased surface storage

  -reduced vegetation -> reduced interception and transpiration

  -saturated soil -> increased overland flow

  
  

  summer

  -lower levels of precipitation -> reduced surface storage

  -rapid vegetation growth -> increased interception and transpiration

  -dry soil -> increased infiltration
• how does land use change affect stores and transfers in the water cycle?


  stores

  -soil water storage decreases

  -interception decreases

  -surface storage increases

  
  

  transfers

  -impermeable surfaces -> infiltration decreases -> overland flow increases -> channel flow increases
• how does the farming practice irrigation affect stores and transfers in the water cycle?


  stores

  -soil water storage increases

  -groundwater storage decreases

  
  

  transfers

  -infiltration increases -> throughflow increases -> overland flow decreases
• how does the farming practice soil drainage affect stores and transfers in the water cycle?


  stores

  -groundwater storage decreases

  -surface storage increases

  
  

  transfers

  -dry soil -> soil erosion -> infiltration decreases -> overland flow increases -> channel flow increases
• how does water abstraction affect stores and transfers in the water cycle?


  stores

  -groundwater store decreases

  -water table lowered

  
  

  transfers

  -saline intrusion

  -percolation decreases
• how does deforestation affect stores and transfers in the water cycle?


  stores

  -interception storage decreases

  -groundwater storage decreases

  -surface storage increases

  
  

  transfers

  -interception decreases -> soil erosion -> infiltration decreases -> overland flow increases -> channel flow increases