geography

• What are the components of a system?

  Inputs, outputs, stores, flows, boundaries
• What defines an open system?

  Receives inputs and transfers outputs
• What characterizes a closed system?

  Energy inputs equal outputs
• What is dynamic equilibrium in a system?

  Inputs equal outputs despite changing conditions
• What is positive feedback in a system?

  Amplifies impacts of the original event
• What does negative feedback refer to?

  Nullifies impacts of the original event
• How are the carbon and water cycles classified on a local scale?

  Both are open systems
• How are the carbon and water cycles classified on a global scale?

  Both are closed systems
• What are the main components of the water cycle at a local scale?

  • Inputs: Precipitation
  • Outputs: Evapotranspiration, streamflow
  • Flows: Infiltration, percolation, throughflow, surface runoff, groundwater flow, stemflow
  • Stores: Soil water, groundwater, river channel, interception, surface storage
• What is precipitation?

  Water falling from the atmosphere
• What are the three types of rainfall?

  Convectional, relief, frontal
• How does convectional rainfall occur?

  Warm air rises, condenses, and falls
• What causes relief rainfall?

  Warm air forced upward by barriers
• What is frontal rainfall?

  Warm air rises over cool air masses
• What is evapotranspiration?

  Combination of evaporation and transpiration
• What is streamflow?

  Water leaving a drainage basin
• What is infiltration?

  Water moving from surface into soil
• What does infiltration capacity refer to?

  Speed at which infiltration occurs
• What happens when precipitation exceeds infiltration capacity?

  Overland flow occurs
• What is percolation?

  Water moving from soil into rock
• What is throughflow?

  Water moving through soil to streams
• How does soil type affect throughflow speed?

  Clay slows flow, sandy drains quickly
• What is surface runoff?

  Water flowing above ground
• What is groundwater flow?

  Water moving through rocks
• What is stemflow?

  Water intercepted by plants flowing down
• What are the different stores of water in the water cycle?

  • Soil water: Utilized by plants
  • Groundwater: Stored in rock pore spaces
  • River channel: Water stored in rivers
  • Interception: Water on plant branches/leaves
  • Surface storage: Water in puddles, ponds, lakes
• What is the water table?

  Upper level of saturated ground pore spaces
• What does the water balance express?

  Water storage and transfer in a basin
• What is the formula for the water balance?

  Precipitation = Total Runoff + Evapotranspiration +/- Storage
• What factors affect the water balance?

  Physical factors, temperature, precipitation
• How does deforestation impact the water cycle?

  Increases surface runoff, decreases soil storage
• How do storm events affect the water cycle?

  Increase surface runoff, less effective for recharge
• What happens during seasonal changes in the water cycle?

  Vegetation growth affects interception and runoff
• How does agriculture affect the water cycle?

  Livestock trample ground, reducing infiltration
• What is the impact of urbanization on the water cycle?

  Creates impermeable surfaces, increases runoff
• What is the soil water budget?

  • Annual balance of inputs and outputs
  • Affected by rainfall and dry weather
  • Depends on soil type, depth, permeability
  • Maximum storage level is field capacity
• How does the soil water budget change seasonally?

  Varies with precipitation and evapotranspiration
• What occurs in autumn regarding soil moisture?

  Increased precipitation leads to water surplus
• What happens in winter to soil water stores?

  Precipitation refills soil water stores
• What occurs in spring regarding soil water?

  Potential evapotranspiration increases with growth