water cycle

• What is a Systems Approach to Geography?

  It simplifies and contextualizes complex relationships
• What are key concepts in system thinking?

  Equilibrium, thresholds, and feedback loops
• How does a Systems Approach help in geography?

  It helps understand physical landscapes and human impacts
• What defines a system?

  A group of interacting parts connected by flows
• What are the boundaries of a system?

  They define the limits of the system's interactions
• What is an open system?

  It has external inputs and outputs of energy
• What is a closed system?

  Only energy is exchanged; matter is contained
• What is an isolated system?

  It does not share matter or energy with surroundings
• What is the primary energy source for global systems?

  Energy from the sun
• What are cascading systems?

  Where energy and material transfer between subsystems
• What is Earth's global system classified as?

  A closed system with energy input from the sun
• What are the four major systems within Earth's global system?

  Atmospheric, hydrosphere, biosphere, lithosphere
• What are the components of a system?

  Inputs, throughputs, outputs, stores, and processes
• What is an input in a system?

  Energy or matter moving into a system
• What is an output in a system?

  Energy or matter moving out of a system
• What is a store/component in a system?

  Individual parts or elements of the system
• What are flows/transfers in a system?

  The movement of parts within the system
• What are processes in a system?

  Changes that occur to stores/components and inputs
• What is equilibrium in a system?

  A state where inputs and outputs are equal
• What happens when a system is disturbed?

  It can throw the system into change
• What are feedback loops?

  Mechanisms that maintain or restore equilibrium
• What is positive feedback?

  It amplifies change and moves away from balance
• What is negative feedback?

  It checks or dampens change to promote stability
• What is dynamic equilibrium?

  A state of balance with constant short-term adjustments
• How does a storm affect beach profiles?

  It increases sediment loss and changes profiles
• What is the definition of the hydrological cycle?

  The continuous movement of water on Earth
• What processes are involved in the hydrological cycle?

  Evaporation, condensation, and flows
• What is interception in the water cycle?

  Precipitation caught on leaves or branches
• What is infiltration?

  Water entering small openings in the ground
• What is percolation?

  Water flowing down through soil and rock
• What is groundwater flow?

  Water that has infiltrated and percolated into bedrock
• What is evapotranspiration?

  Combination of evaporation and plant transpiration
• What is condensation in the water cycle?

  Water vapor changes to liquid water
• What is sublimation?

  Water changes from solid to gas without liquid
• What is the phreatic zone?

  Where there is permanent saturation of groundwater
• What global factor affects water stores?

  Climate change impacts water store sizes
• How does the global atmospheric circulation affect precipitation?

  It drives cloud formation and types of precipitation
• What happens to warm, moist air at the Equator?

  It rises, cools, and condenses into clouds
• What is the result of high rates of evaporation at the Equator?

  It leads to heavy rainfall in low-pressure zones
• What is the definition of a subsystem?

  A smaller system within a larger system