Question
SLPaper 2
1.[4]
Explain how energy drives the hydrological cycle.
Verified
Solution
- Primary source of energy driving hydrological cycle is solar energy
1 mark - Solar energy causes changes of state in water
1 mark - Condensation of water releases (latent) heat energy causing air to rise/hurricanes
1 mark - Solar energy causes the temperature differences that create winds/cause movement of water vapour in the atmosphere/advection
1 mark - Kinetic/wind energy moves clouds (from ocean over land, usually)
1 mark - Solar energy melts ice producing streams/lakes/rising ocean levels
1 mark - Solar energy causes both transfers (e.g. advection) and transformations (e.g. evaporation) in hydrological cycle
1 mark - Precipitation/run-off/streamflow occurs due to gravitational energy/difference in potential energy between the high and low positions
1 mark - Transpiration is driven by opening of leaf stomata which is due to chemical energy (cellular respiration in mitochondria)
1 mark
2.[7]
Using a system diagram, explain how human activities affect global water cycle flows.
Verified
Solution
Identifying Impacts
- Melting will increase due to global warming/climate change/increased greenhouse gas emissions
- Freezing will decrease due to global warming/climate change/etc.
- Precipitation will be polluted due to acid formation/emissions of NOx & SOx/combustion of coal
- Precipitation could change/increase/decrease due to climate change/etc.
- Percolation/infiltration will decrease due to urbanization/soil compaction caused by overgrazing
- Run-off will increase due to urbanization/deforestation
- Warmer/polluted streams due to thermal/toxic pollution from industrial effluent
- Evaporation will increase due to global warming/climate change/etc.
- Evapotranspiration will increase due to global warming/climate change/etc.
- Evapotranspiration will be reduced due to deforestation
- Uptake by plants will be reduced due to deforestation/urbanization/long fallow periods
- Groundwater flow/aquifers will change dependent on climatic impacts/precipitation/rate of human extraction
- Cloud seeding increases precipitation (addressing problem of drought/fog around airports)
Quality of Diagram
Award 1 mark for every 3 correctly labeled flows or storages. No marks for less than 3.
Note
Maximum 2 marks if gradient is left as a fraction
3.[9]
To what extent do different environmental value systems improve fresh water access?
Verified
Solution
Answers may include:
- Availability & distribution of water
- Water security
- Climate change
- Water pollution
- Sustainable management of freshwater resources
- Reservoirs
- Desalination
- Artificial recharge
- Water conservation
- Environmental value systems
- Increasing demand for water
- Water scarcity
- Link a range of environmental value systems to specific management strategies
- Link environmental value systems to general approaches that improve or hinder widespread access to freshwater
- Consider geographical locations differing in freshwater availability/quality
- Consider societies of different economic development
- Provide examples of strategies and human management activities/approaches linked to specific value systems that impact water accessibility
| Marks | Level descriptor |
|---|---|
| 0 | The response does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below and is not relevant to the question. |
| 1–3 | The response contains:• minimal evidence of knowledge and understanding of ESS issues or concepts • fragmented knowledge statements poorly linked to the context of the question • some appropriate use of ESS terminology • no examples where required, or examples with insufficient explanation/relevance • superficial analysis that amounts to no more than a list of facts/ideas • judgments/conclusions that are vague or not supported by evidence/argument. |
| 4–6 | The response contains: • some evidence of sound knowledge and understanding of ESS issues and concepts • knowledge statements effectively linked to the context of the question • largely appropriate use of ESS terminology • some use of relevant examples where required, but with limited explanation • clear analysis that shows a degree of balance • some clear judgments/conclusions, supported by limited evidence/arguments. |
| 7–9 | The response contains: • substantial evidence of sound knowledge and understanding of ESS issues and concepts • a wide breadth of knowledge statements effectively linked with each other, and to the context of the question • consistently appropriate and precise use of ESS terminology • effective use of pertinent, well-explained examples, where required, showing some originality • thorough, well-balanced, insightful analysis • explicit judgments/conclusions that are well-supported by evidence/arguments and that include some critical reflection. |
