ENVR 200 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Ocean Current, Maritime Geography, Water Cycle
28 Aug 2016
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Document Summary
Controlled by many factors including energy budgets, atmospheric circulation, surface ocean currents, land masses and topography. Energy (photosynthesis) and matter (nutrients, sediments) are moved with water. A closed system with open reservoirs (ocean, glacier, atmosphere, ground etc) Green water flow results from evapotranspiration by plants. Blue water flow is usable water flowing at or below the earth s surface. Precipitation tends to occur more in high altitudes, then water runs downhill. Volume of a reservoir divided by the rate of input or output (in steady state) While held in the atmosphere (~11 days), water can transport energy as heat. Different materials can have different residence times (c,s,n) Residence time in a reservoir can change (eg: glaciation/melting affects water levels) Phase changes release/require energy (~24% of solar radiation used for evaporation) Energy is a driving force behind the hydrological cycle. The hydrological cycle affects ecosystems on a smaller scale.
