The Hydrological Cycle (Edexcel IGCSE Geography)
Revision Note
Written by: Bridgette Barrett
Reviewed by: Jenna Quinn
Characteristics of the Water Cycle
The hydrological cycle is a closed system
Water is constantly recycled through the system
The hydrological cycle includes stores and transfers
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Remember there are no inputs and outputs in the hydrological system, only transfers and stores, because it is a closed system.
Stores of the Water Cycle
Stores are those places where water is held for a period of time. These include:
Water in the atmosphere in the form of water vapour or water droplets in clouds
Surface stores such as puddles, lakes, rivers and reservoirs
Interception is how precipitation is prevented from reaching the ground, usually by being caught on leaves or branches
Aquifers are permeable rocks such as limestone and sandstone which can hold water
Ice and snow
Seas and oceans
Transfers of Water Within the Cycle
Transfers are the ways in which water is moved around the hydrological cycle. They include:
Evaporation
Condensation
Transpiration
Evapotranspiration
Precipitation
Overland flow
Infiltration
Percolation
Through flow
Groundwater flow
Worked Example
Identify the statement that best defines through flow (1)
A | Water moving through the soil |
B | Water taken up by plants from the soil and released into the atmosphere as water vapour |
C | Movement of water over the ground |
D | Movement of water through rocks |
Answer:
A (1) -Through flow is the water moving through the soil below the surface and above the water table
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Try sketching the hydrological cycle from memory. Remember to add a key to show stores and transfers.
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