Changes in water stores

• The water cycle is impacted on a locale scale by:

  • Deforestation
  • Storm events
  • Seasonal changes
  • Agriculture
  • Urbanisation
• The water cycle is impacted by deforestation on a locales scale as there is less interception by trees so surface runoff increases and the fewer plants leads to a decrease in transpiration
• Seasonal changes to the water cycle:

  • Spring - more vegetation growth so more interception by vegetation
  • Summer - likely to be less rain. Ground may be harder and therefore more impermeable which encourages surface runoff
  • Autumn - less vegetation growth so less interception. More rainfall
  • Winter - impermeable surface due to ice. Snow encourages runoff
• Water can be stored in 4 areas:

  • Hydrosphere
  • Lithosphere - crust and upper mantle
  • Cryosphere - frozen water
  • Atmosphere