Hydrologic cycle
what is the ideal gas law?
PV=nRT (pressure x volume= constant x constant x temp
define the hydrologic cycle
aka water cycle, the circulation of earths water supply between reservoirs and states of solid liquid and gas
describe sublimation
change directly from solid to gas state, skipping the liquid phase
What happens when the temperature decreases?
condensation increases, evaporation decreases, and precipitation increases
describe evaporation
energy from the air is harnessed; evaporation rate is proportional to temp ^T = ^E
What are the four stages of the hydrologic cycle?
evaporation, precipitation, runoff (onto land or into oceans) and infiltration/ groundwater flow
what are different processes of water transfer?
evaporation, transpiration,
what is the cryosphere?
glaciers, ice sheet, snow pack and sea ice
what is the biosphere?
lakes, rivers, human activity, volcanic activity, land activity in general
What are some major reservoirs?
lakes, rivers, oceans
what happens when there is a cold front?
less precipitation
what does warm air above cold air produce?
lots of precipitation
what happens when there is a warm front?
lots of precipitation
what is the orographic effect?
moist air is lifted and cooled as it travels over a mountain range (potentially causing precipitation)
what is the atmosphere?
nitrogen, oxygen, argon, water, carbon dioxide and other green house gases
where does most evaporation occur?
over tropical oceans
describe transpiration
plant sweat; the loss of water by evaporation in terrestrial plants, esp through stomata accompanied w corresponding uptake of water from the roots
describe the process of infiltration
process by which water enters the soil
describe the process of runoff
the draining away of water from a surface/ structure
describe the process of precipitation
water condenses and falls from clouds
what is groundwater?
water held underground in the soil, or in pores/ crevices in rock
what are the causes of precipitation?
water vapor (moist air) must cool, clouds form and water condenses. this can happen due to the orographic effect, or frontal wedging
