Water and carbon cycles: Questions (A Level)
Q no. Topic area Question Marks Source Done
3.1.1.1 Water and carbon cycles as natural systems
Systems in physical geography: systems concepts and their application to the water and carbon cycles inputs – outputs, energy,
stores/components, flows/transfers, positive/negative feedback, dynamic equilibrium.
1 Systems Outline the main features of systems in geography 9 Page 70 Cross
Academe book
Outline the process of infiltration as a flow of water within a drainage basin AS P1 2019
system
3.1.1.2 The water cycle – Global distribution and size of major stores of water – lithosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere and atmosphere.
Processes driving change in the magnitude of these stores over time and space, including flows and transfers: evaporation, condensation, cloud
formation, causes of precipitation and cryospheric processes at hill slope, drainage basin and global scales with reference to varying timescales
involved.
Drainage basins as open systems – inputs and outputs, to include precipitation, evapotranspiration and runoff; stores and flows, to include
interception, surface, soil water, groundwater and channel storage; stemflow, infiltration overland flow, and channel flow.
Concept of water balance. Runoff variation and the flood hydrograph.
Changes in the water cycle over time to include natural variation including storm events, seasonal changes and human impact including farming
practices, land use change and water abstraction.
2 Stores of water Explain the role of storage in the water balance of a drainage basin 3 Page 37 Cambridge
3 Explain why and how the relative magnitude of global water cycle stores varies 6 Page 56-7 Oxford
over time Book
Explain the role of cryospheric change in the water cycle 4 2018 P1
Figure 1 shows data about water stored in reservoirs in England and Wales in 2019 P1 AS
recent years – line graphs
4 Water balance What is meant by the water balance? 4 P 70 Cross Academe
5 Flood hydrograph Describe the characteristics you would expect of a drainage basin that produces a 3 Page 37 Cambridge
‘flashy’ river.
, 6 Study the flood hydrograph below that presents flow data for the River Leen and 4 Page 56-7 Oxford
Cocker Beck, both tributaries of the river Trent in Nottinghamshire. Outline the Book
possible reasons for their differing responses to rainfall received in the local area
on the 28th March 2016
7 Changes over time Outline the potential impacts of water abstraction on the water cycle 3 P51 Hodder book
8 Outline the impact of long-term global temperature changes in the water cycle 4 P5 CPG
9 Outline seasonal changes in the water balance 4 P7 CPG
1 2018 AS P1
Outline an example of positive feedback in the water cycle. 3 2018 AS P1
3.1.1.3 The carbon cycle Global distribution, and size of major stores of carbon – lithosphere,
hydrosphere, cryosphere biosphere, atmosphere.
Factors driving change in the magnitude of these stores over time and space, including flows and
transfers at plant, sere and continental scales.
Photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, combustion, carbon sequestration in oceans and
sediments, weathering.
Changes in the carbon cycle over time, to include natural variation (including wild fires, volcanic
activity) and human impact (including hydrocarbon fuel extraction and burning, farming practices,
deforestation, land use changes).
The carbon budget and the impact of the carbon cycle upon land, ocean and atmosphere, including
global climate.
10 Stores Explain the sources of carbon in the oceanic carbon cycle. 6 Page 37 Cambridge
11 Is carbon sequestration a recent, human innovation or old news? ‘COP21 The 6 Page 56-7 Oxford
global warming targets agreed in Paris will drive a carbon- capture revolution’ Book
The Independent December 2015.
12 Study Figure 6 below. Explain how scientists mapping carbon stores across the 4 Page 56-7 Oxford
globe use remotely- sensed data to quantify the biosphere. Explain the concept Book
of dynamic equilibrium in relation to the carbon cycle at the scale of the
Q no. Topic area Question Marks Source Done
3.1.1.1 Water and carbon cycles as natural systems
Systems in physical geography: systems concepts and their application to the water and carbon cycles inputs – outputs, energy,
stores/components, flows/transfers, positive/negative feedback, dynamic equilibrium.
1 Systems Outline the main features of systems in geography 9 Page 70 Cross
Academe book
Outline the process of infiltration as a flow of water within a drainage basin AS P1 2019
system
3.1.1.2 The water cycle – Global distribution and size of major stores of water – lithosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere and atmosphere.
Processes driving change in the magnitude of these stores over time and space, including flows and transfers: evaporation, condensation, cloud
formation, causes of precipitation and cryospheric processes at hill slope, drainage basin and global scales with reference to varying timescales
involved.
Drainage basins as open systems – inputs and outputs, to include precipitation, evapotranspiration and runoff; stores and flows, to include
interception, surface, soil water, groundwater and channel storage; stemflow, infiltration overland flow, and channel flow.
Concept of water balance. Runoff variation and the flood hydrograph.
Changes in the water cycle over time to include natural variation including storm events, seasonal changes and human impact including farming
practices, land use change and water abstraction.
2 Stores of water Explain the role of storage in the water balance of a drainage basin 3 Page 37 Cambridge
3 Explain why and how the relative magnitude of global water cycle stores varies 6 Page 56-7 Oxford
over time Book
Explain the role of cryospheric change in the water cycle 4 2018 P1
Figure 1 shows data about water stored in reservoirs in England and Wales in 2019 P1 AS
recent years – line graphs
4 Water balance What is meant by the water balance? 4 P 70 Cross Academe
5 Flood hydrograph Describe the characteristics you would expect of a drainage basin that produces a 3 Page 37 Cambridge
‘flashy’ river.
, 6 Study the flood hydrograph below that presents flow data for the River Leen and 4 Page 56-7 Oxford
Cocker Beck, both tributaries of the river Trent in Nottinghamshire. Outline the Book
possible reasons for their differing responses to rainfall received in the local area
on the 28th March 2016
7 Changes over time Outline the potential impacts of water abstraction on the water cycle 3 P51 Hodder book
8 Outline the impact of long-term global temperature changes in the water cycle 4 P5 CPG
9 Outline seasonal changes in the water balance 4 P7 CPG
1 2018 AS P1
Outline an example of positive feedback in the water cycle. 3 2018 AS P1
3.1.1.3 The carbon cycle Global distribution, and size of major stores of carbon – lithosphere,
hydrosphere, cryosphere biosphere, atmosphere.
Factors driving change in the magnitude of these stores over time and space, including flows and
transfers at plant, sere and continental scales.
Photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, combustion, carbon sequestration in oceans and
sediments, weathering.
Changes in the carbon cycle over time, to include natural variation (including wild fires, volcanic
activity) and human impact (including hydrocarbon fuel extraction and burning, farming practices,
deforestation, land use changes).
The carbon budget and the impact of the carbon cycle upon land, ocean and atmosphere, including
global climate.
10 Stores Explain the sources of carbon in the oceanic carbon cycle. 6 Page 37 Cambridge
11 Is carbon sequestration a recent, human innovation or old news? ‘COP21 The 6 Page 56-7 Oxford
global warming targets agreed in Paris will drive a carbon- capture revolution’ Book
The Independent December 2015.
12 Study Figure 6 below. Explain how scientists mapping carbon stores across the 4 Page 56-7 Oxford
globe use remotely- sensed data to quantify the biosphere. Explain the concept Book
of dynamic equilibrium in relation to the carbon cycle at the scale of the
