hydrological cycle and the point out it's physical and biological roles in maintaining the earth systems
Cycle
in the strictest sense refers to a sequence of events which returns
to it's starting point.Hydrological cycle in simple words refers to
the cyclic movement of water in air,water and land which takes place
by the change in it's phase from liquid to gas and again ack to
liquid or solid(ice state).
according
to C.A.M.king(1996)- asystem is defined as a set of objects that are
considered together by studying their relationships to each other and
their individual attributes.
The
earth system which is both an isolated system(those in which the
boundaries for the input of energy and output or export of mass and
matter are closed or fixed) on one hand and on the other hand.The
functioning of the earth system is the sum of the simultaneous
functioning of several subsystems of the earth system one of which is
th hydrological cycle.
Water
which is the cheif and only component of the hydrological cycle is
the source of life on this planet.Not only that it covers 3 parts of
the earth's surface ,it forms a part of the body weight of all
organisms.For example:-some species of fungi has <=90% water in
their body.thus,hydrological cycle plays an immense role in
maintaining the earth systems.
Physical
roles:-
Water
has a property of high specific heat capacity.When water in the form
of oean currents move polewards then it liberates heat energy which
modifies the severe cold climate prevailing in higher latitudes in
winter near the coastal areas which help to keep some of the sea
ports open during the winter season.
Sea
water also modifies ,builds landforms by it's erosional and
depositional action.Exmple:-Delta,modification of sea facing
cliffs.Moreover,rainwater filling on the slopes wash away layers of
soil causing sheet erosion.Large rivers which contains high volume of
water depending upon channel gradient which determines it's velocity
and whether there would be resistance of the rock strata and the
character of the joints upon which the river/stream is
flowing.V-shapped valley is an example of erosional landform while a
delta can be cited as an example of a depositional feature.
Water
in the solid state also has it's own contribution in sculpturing the
landscape.Example:-Glacial Till is a depositional landform.Ice
scoured plain is an example of the erosive action by the ice caps.
Water
also chemically reacts with certain soluble rock formong minerals
like calcium carbonate which are found extensively in the Karst
region and give shape to landforms.
In the Karst region water forms
sink holes and dissapear underground.On their path underground they
form limestone caves, pillars,stalactites etc.
Biological
Roles:-
Biological
roles include transpiration and evaporation which in their own way
help the food chain or the other non-biological earth systems.
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