Carbon and water cycle definitions

?
Isolated system
No interactions with anything outside it's boundary
1 of 66
Closed system
Energy can be transferred into and out of the system but no matter
2 of 66
Open system
Both energy and matter can be transferred across the system boundary
3 of 66
Positive feedback
A cyclical sequence that amplifies change. It exacerbates the outputs leading to global instability
4 of 66
Negative feedback
A cyclical sequence which will dampen down the effects of a system promoting stability and a dynamic equilibrium
5 of 66
Cascading system
Involves 4 sub-systems (atmosphere, biosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere). When these interlock it has an effect on the earth's climate
6 of 66
Dynamic equilbrium
A state of balance between continuing processes
7 of 66
Lithosphere
Rigid outer part of the earth including crust and upper mantle
8 of 66
Hydroshpere
All water near or at the Sarah's surface and atmospheric vapour. It also includes ice on the surface
9 of 66
Cryosphere
Any frozen part of the earth's system
10 of 66
Cryospheric processes
The formation of ice forms
11 of 66
Water balance
Water flowing into and out of the system affecting the amount of water in it
12 of 66
Biosphere
Any part of the earth that supports life and the organisms that inhabit it
13 of 66
Atmosphere
A gaseous envelope surrounding the earth
14 of 66
Precipitation
Any form of water falling from the sky
15 of 66
Percolation
The slow movement of water through pores in soil and permeable rock
16 of 66
Ground water
Water beneath the surface if the ground including surface water
17 of 66
Infiltration
The seepage of water into soil or permeable rock
18 of 66
Overland flow
The movement of water over the land
19 of 66
Evaporation
The process of a liquid changing to a gas due to increased temperature or pressure
20 of 66
Throughflow
The movement water horrizontaly beneath the surface
21 of 66
Saturation
The degree or extent of which something is dissolved or absorbed compared to maximum capacity
22 of 66
Ground water flow
The movement of water sideways through soil
23 of 66
Interception
Where phycial objects prevent precipitation from reaching the ground
24 of 66
Stem flow
Precipitation flowing along the stems of plants to the ground
25 of 66
Throughfall
Precipitation falls straight to the ground
26 of 66
Transpiration
Water is released from plants through the leaves
27 of 66
Evapotranspiration
An accumulation of evaporated and transpired water
28 of 66
Channel flow
Downhill movement of water in rivers
29 of 66
River discharge
The volume of water flowing through a river channel measured in cubic metres per second (cumecs)
30 of 66
Adiabatic cooling
Reducing heat through a change in air pressure
31 of 66
Latent heat
Hidden thermal energy
32 of 66
Melting
Making something liquefied through heating
33 of 66
Freezing
Reducing temperature below 0°C to make a liquid solid
34 of 66
Condensation
Atmospheric water vapour liquefying
35 of 66
Sublimation
Solids turning into a gas without becoming liquid first
36 of 66
Depsoition
A gas becoming solid without liquefying first
37 of 66
Latent heat of vaporisation
Energy required to turn a liquid to gas
38 of 66
Latent heat of fusion
Energy required to turn a solid to liquid
39 of 66
Latent heat of sublimation
Energy required to turn a solid into a gas
40 of 66
Ablation
Melting snow or ice that runs of the glacier
41 of 66
Accumulation
Frozen precipitation or precipitation that freezes on the surface. And the refreezing of meltwater
42 of 66
Anthropogenic CO2
Human induced or influenced CO2 emissions
43 of 66
Carbon sequestration
Process of removing carbon from the atmosphere held in a solid or liquid form
44 of 66
Carbon sink
An area that absorbs more carbon from the atmosphere than it emits
45 of 66
Greenhouse gas
A gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect
46 of 66
Weathering
Change or wearing aware due to exposure to the atmosphere
47 of 66
Radiative forcing
The difference in sunlight absorbed by the earth and sent back to space
48 of 66
Astronomical forcing
Affects on climate due to the earth's tilt
49 of 66
Boreal forests
Forested area of the northern north temperate zone dominated by coniferous trees e.g. spruce,fir and pune
50 of 66
Carbon source
A store of carbon that releases more that it absorbs
51 of 66
Climate
The average weather of an area for a given period of time
52 of 66
Climate change
The fluctuations in the earth's climate
53 of 66
Decomposition
The breakdown of matter by bacteria and fungi
54 of 66
Deforestation
Removing of trees from an area e.g. a forest
55 of 66
Fossil fuel
Any hydrocarbon that can be burned for heat or power
56 of 66
Flux/ flow/transfer
Rate of change between stores
57 of 66
Global warming
Term given to the increase in global temperatures
58 of 66
Greenhouse effect
The roles of greenhouse gases (water vapour, CO2, methane etc) in keeping the earth's surface warmer than it would otherwise be
59 of 66
Greenhouse gas inventory
A statistical compilation of greenhouse gases emitted by a community, state or country
60 of 66
Ice core
A vertical section of ice from a glacier or ice sheet used to analyse carbon contents in the atmosphere at a given period of time
61 of 66
Longwave radiation
Radiation emitted greater than 4 micrometres corresponding to the radiation emmited to the atmosphere
62 of 66
Soil carbon
A major component of the terrestrial biosphere. It states the amount of carbon stored within soil
63 of 66
Pedosphere
The soil layer of the earth
64 of 66
Lithology
The process of sediment becoming compacted and solid due to pressure
65 of 66
Antecedent rainfall
The process of precipitation falling onto already saturated ground
66 of 66

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Energy can be transferred into and out of the system but no matter

Back

Closed system

Card 3

Front

Both energy and matter can be transferred across the system boundary

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

A cyclical sequence that amplifies change. It exacerbates the outputs leading to global instability

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

A cyclical sequence which will dampen down the effects of a system promoting stability and a dynamic equilibrium

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
View more cards

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Geography resources:

See all Geography resources »See all Carbon and water cycles resources »