Human factors can disturb and enhance the natural processes and stories in the water and carbon cycles

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  • Created by: danbot77
  • Created on: 26-04-21 14:37
Define dynamic equilibrium.
Dynamic equilibrium is the balanced state of a system where its' inputs and outputs are equal over time. If one component is changed, this will affect the other elements of the cycle.
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What are some natural events that can affect the water cycle?
Storm events, seasonal changes, ecosystem changes (less vegetation means less absorption and transpiration etc)
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What are some natural events that can affect the carbon cycle?
Volcanic activity and wildfires. Wildfires can be started naturally by things like lightning or heatwaves or they can be man made. However, these ecosystems will eventually sequester carbon when they regrow.
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How does forestry affect the carbon cycle?
Changing the land use for forestry can absorb around 200 tonnes of carbon per hectare from the atmosphere. Forests act as carbon sinks for the first 100 years of their life and they are felled around 80 years in.
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How does farming affect the carbon cycle?
Changing the land use to farming can increase atmospheric carbon by ploughing fields and therefore oxidising the carbon. The harvest of crops also only allows minimal carbon to be absorbed in the soil.
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How does urbanisation affect the carbon cycle?
Changing the land use to urbanisation can include high carbon emissions due to the process of making concrete. The transport also release CO2.
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How does forestry affect the water cycle?
Changing the land use to forestry can help evaporation. 50% of Argentina, Peru and Bolivia's rain is from the Amazon. Increases interception. Sitka trees have a 60% interception rate. Transpiration rates increase due to the amount of vegetation.
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How does urbanisation affect the water cycle?
Changing the land use to urbanisation stops infiltration due to concrete being impermeable, increased run-off. Water is discharged quickly by drains etc so streams rapidly rise. Reduced capacity of floodplains which increases flood risk.
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How does farming affect the water cycle?
Changing the land use to farming will reduce natural storage due to irrigation (Aral sea). Less interception than in forests or grasslands. Ploughing increases infiltration but also soil moisture loss. More runoff.
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What were the effects of the Aral Sea losing so much water?
Water from the lake was irrigated to help make cotton farms in the Kyzylkum desert. By 2001 the north and south part of the sea was separated. The dust blew onto farms making them infertile. Seasons were more extreme.
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What is an example of humans affecting aquifer levels?
The London Aquifer has been overpumped since the 19th century which has meant it is depleted and therefore can no longer be used due to the water level going below the boar pipe.
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How have humans extracting water from aquifers affected the water cycle?
The River Kennet has has 10-40% reduced flows due to over extraction.
reduced flood risk.
Less surface run off on the chalk (can't refill as much)
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Card 2

Front

What are some natural events that can affect the water cycle?

Back

Storm events, seasonal changes, ecosystem changes (less vegetation means less absorption and transpiration etc)

Card 3

Front

What are some natural events that can affect the carbon cycle?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

How does forestry affect the carbon cycle?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

How does farming affect the carbon cycle?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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