Features of the Hydrosphere

• Hydrosphere


  water in all forms (solid, liquid and vapour)
• Hydrological cycle


  cycle of water, the movement of water and its transformation between the gaseous (vapour), liquid, and solid forms.
• Reservoirs of water


  Ocean, ice, lakes, river, atmosphere, groundwater, soil moisture and living organisms
• Precipitation


  Any form of water that falls from clouds and reaches Earth's surface. Affected by temperature and humidity.

  An input of Natural Hydrological Cycle
• Interception


  Water being prevented from reaching the surface by vegetation
• Infiltration


  Rate at which water reaches the soil
• Percolation


  Flow of water through the pore space in rocks
• Groundwater flow


  Movement of water through pores in rock
• Surface run off


  Flow of water over the ground surface
• Evaporation


  The change of state from a liquid to a gas
• Transporation


  Water being taken up by roots and released as water vapour through leaf pores
• Evapotranspiration


  The combined amount of evaporation and transpiration
• Water Table


  The upper level of the saturated zone of groundwater
• Sublimation


  solid to gas
• dynamic equilibrium


  transport rate of water movement by the various processes is balanced despite changing conditions
• Residence time


  average length of time in which water molecules stay in one reservoir
• What has the shortest residence time?

  water in living organisms, which is 1 week
• Residence time calculation


  Volume of water divided by the mean transfer rate
• What are mineral resources in the hydrosphere?


  -dissolved minerals

  -ions present in water
• What are biogeochemical cycles related to the hydrosphere?


  -carbon cycle

  -nitrogen cycle
• What role do soils play in the hydrosphere?


  Soils act as a filter and reservoir for water, regulating its movement of elements between living organisms, the atmosphere, and water bodies