ESS262H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Hydrosphere, Regolith, Porosity
Document Summary
Also known as the water cycle describes the continuous movement of water on, above and below the surface of the earth. It is important to understand the cycle maintains a mass balance on a global scale. Water plays a central role in: moderating temperature and controlling climate. Erosional, depositional effects of: streams, waves, glaciers + tectonic activity have produced the diversity of earth"s landscapes. Oceans: largest reservoir w/ >97. 5% of earth"s water (most is saline and unusable by humans) Polar ice sheets: largest reservoir of fresh water w/ 74% of earth"s water. Groundwater: largest reservoir of unfrozen fresh water. Movement of water through hydro cycle is powered by the sun. Size and shape of a stream channel are controlled by: erodibility of rock, steepness of descent, volume of water. Streams"s load is the total sediment and dissolved matter it is transporting. Low gradient streams assume sinuous shape (each bend is a meander) Velocity is lowest along inside of meanders.
