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1.2.3 What are the processes of the global water cycle? (PRECIPITATION…
1.2.3
What are the processes of the global water cycle?
Difference between as
flow
and a
process
A
flow
is describing the
movement of matter
through a cycle or system,
how much
is moving and the store it is moving
to and from
.
A
process
describes the
actual mechanical or physical changes
that occur to the matter in order for it to
flow from one store/from another
EVAPORATION
The
sun
:sunny: is the driving force in the water cycle.
48%
of the sun's energy is absorbed by
land & sea
.
29%
is reflected back to space. :star2:
23%
is
absorbed
by the
atmosphere
.
Most
global evaporation
occurs over the
oceans
. :ocean:
70%
of Earth's surface covered in
water
. :droplet:
PRECIPITATION
Only
22%
of precipitation falls on the Earth's
land surface
. The rest falls
back into the ocean
.
All
precipitation starts as
ice crystals
:snowflake:
Rain
Frozen precipitation
melts and reaches the ground as rain (
liquid
)
Freezing rain
Frozen precipitation
melts
in the warm air.
Rain falls
and
freezes
on cold surfaces.
Sleet
Frozen precipitation
melts in shallow warm air
. Then
refreezes
into sleet before reaching the surface.
Snow
Snow falls through
cold air
and reaches the surface.
TRANSPIRATION
Responsible for
10%
of water in the atmosphere.
More
transpiration in the
summer
as plants are
in leaf
rather than in the
winter
where
rates are lower
.
Limited water
-> stomata
close
so transpiration rates will
decrease
.
Stomata also
close
at
night
so
no
transpiration occurs.
CRYOSPHERIC PROCESSES
Accumulation
- addition of ice
Glaciers
Ice caps
Ice sheets
Ice shelves
Ablation
- loss of ice
Melting
Evaporation
Sublimation
CONDENSATION
Water from a gas to a liquid
.
For condensation to occur, you need:
Water vapor
,
decreasing temperatures
and
a surface to condense onto
.
ALL AIR CONTAINS
AEROSOLS
ALL AIR CONTAINS
WATER VAPOUR
Why does air cool as it rises?
Particles
collide less
often so the temperature
decreases
.
Air
expands
because there is less air pressure.
CONDENSATION (continued)
Warm air
can hold
more
water.
Because it is warmer, the particles have
more energy
so the water vapour has more energy so will
continue to move around
.
SATURATION
: Air is full with water vapour.
DEW POINT
: Point at which air becomes saturated.
Cloud formation
Clouds are
visible
aggregates of
water
or
ice
or both that
float
in air.
Clouds form when water vapour is
cooled
to it
dew point
Cooling occurs when: air rises (
convection
),
warm air mixes with cold air
and when
advection
occurs.
Cumuliform clouds
:
Flat bases
w/
vertical development
, created by
convection
.
Stratiform clouds
:
layer clouds
, created by
advection
Cirrus clouds
:
wispy
,
high altitude
, do
NOT
produce
precipitation
.