Key Terms

• Evapotranspiration - Combined loss of water through evaporation and transpiration
• Carbon Sink - Natural environment absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
• Greenhouse gas - Gas contributing to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation
• Closed system (water cycle) - Water continuously cycling with no loss or gain
• Transpiration - Moisture evaporating from leaf pores or plant stomata
• Condensation - Water vapor changing to liquid water
• Precipitation - Moisture falling from clouds to the ground
• Ablation - Loss of ice and snow through melting and sublimation
• Groundwater flow - Horizontal water movement within aquifers
• Interception - Rainwater stored in leaves and stems, then evaporated
• Infiltration - Vertical movement of rainwater through soil
• Throughflow - Horizontal water flow through soil into rivers
• Cyrosphere - Frozen water part of Earth's system
• Overland flow - Water moving across the ground surface
• Anthropogenic emissions - Emissions influenced by human activities
• Weathering - Breakup of rocks in their original location
• Combustion - Burning organic material with oxygen, releasing CO2
• Albedo - Reflectivity of solar radiation by surfaces
• Sequestration - Removal and storage of carbon from the atmosphere
• Dynamic equilibrium - Balance between continuing processes
• Negative feedback - Counteracts system change to restore equilibrium
• Positive feedback - Initial change leads to further change