IB Environmental systems and societies 4.1A Hydrological Cycle Key Definitions

Advection is the wind-blown transport of water vapour or condensed/frozen droplets from one region to another, helping connect local hydrological cycles globally.

Evaporation is the transformation of liquid water into vapour due to solar heating.

A flow is the movement of water between stores either as a transfer or a transformation.

Greenhouse gases are atmospheric gases that absorb infrared radiation emitted from the Earth’s surface and re-radiate it back, contributing to atmospheric warming.

Infiltration is the process by which water enters the soil from the surface.

Steady-state equilibrium is the condition in which inputs equal outputs over time, even though water is continuously moving between stores.

Stores are places where water accumulates or is held temporarily, such as oceans, glaciers, lakes, or groundwater.

Transpiration is the release of water vapour by plants into the atmosphere.