Oxford AQA International A-level · Geography (9635)
5 multiple-choice questions marked as you go, and 3 written questions with worked solutions. All on The water cycle.
In the context of The water cycle, how would the water balance equation be rearranged to calculate total runoff (\(Q\)) for a specific drainage basin, assuming steady-state conditions where the change in storage (\(\Delta S\)) is zero?
Analyze the impact of urbanisation on the The water cycle at a drainage basin scale. Which set of changes to the components of the water balance is most likely to occur following the conversion of rural pasture to a high-density residential area?
In The water cycle, how does the water balance equation \(P = Q + E \pm \Delta S\) change during a period where the rate of precipitation (\(P\)) is significantly lower than the combined rate of runoff (\(Q\)) and evapotranspiration (\(E\))?
A river catchment experiences a seasonal change where the winter months see high precipitation and low evapotranspiration. According to The water cycle and the concept of water balance, which of the following states of soil moisture is most likely to be reached by late winter in a temperate maritime climate?
According to the The water cycle, which of the following best explains the variation in a flood hydrograph for a drainage basin characterized by high drainage density and impermeable crystalline bedrock?
Using the concept of a drainage basin as an open system, outline how interception and stemflow function as stores and flows within the system's structure.
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Explain how soil water storage is affected by changes in infiltration rates during a high-intensity storm event in a drainage basin system.
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The Water Cycle and Drainage Basin Systems
Figure 1 shows a flood hydrograph for a river catchment following a significant storm event. The graph displays a short lag time and a high peak discharge.
(a) Explain the physical and human factors that might contribute to the shape of the hydrograph described above. (4)
(b) Evaluate the extent to which human interventions in the water cycle, such as land-use change and water abstraction, can alter the dynamic equilibrium of a drainage basin system. (5)
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