Understanding Earth’s Water Cycle and Climate Regions
Earth’s Water and Climate
The Water Cycle
Groundwater contained within a reservoir rock is called an aquifer. Inland waters play a crucial role in the hydrological cycle. Their ultimate destination is typically the sea. The cycle involves evaporation from the sea to the atmosphere, condensation and precipitation from the atmosphere to the lithosphere, evaporation and transpiration from the soil to the atmosphere, and finally, precipitation back to the sea or land.
The water balance model accounts for water input, storage, and output in a specific location or globally. This model helps calculate monthly water deficits and surpluses.
Water evaporates from seas, rivers, lakes, and moist soil. Plants absorb water through their roots, transport it to their leaves, and release it as vapor into the atmosphere through transpiration. Evaporation and transpiration are collectively referred to as evapotranspiration.
Water Deficit and Surplus
When water output exceeds input in a region, a deficit or shortage occurs, potentially leading to drought and impacting agriculture and human activities.
Movement of Water Masses
Water masses move due to air mass movement, differences in salinity and density, and the moon’s gravitational pull.
Ocean Waves and Currents
Ocean waves result from the wind transferring kinetic energy to the water’s surface. Winds also create surface currents. These currents transport heat from the equator to the poles, influencing global climate.
Surface currents are driven by wind and temperature differences between latitudes, with energy flowing from warm water (source) to cold water (sink).
Deep currents are caused by vertical temperature differences between deep and surface waters.
Oceanic Hot Spots
Oceanic hot spots contribute to cloud and storm formation, affecting atmospheric circulation.
El Niño and La Niña
El Niño occurs when weakened trade winds cause a strong current to flow from Australia to Peru and Ecuador, increasing sea temperatures and leading to evaporation and heavy rainfall in these areas, while causing droughts in Oceania.
La Niña involves strengthened trade winds pushing warm water back towards Australia, enhancing cold currents along Ecuador. This phenomenon brings warmth, rain, and increased cyclone activity to the Caribbean due to the warm, humid air.
Salinity
Rainwater dissolves chemical elements from rocks and soil. Some elements dissolve more readily than others and enter streams and rivers along with sediment.
Seawater salinity depends on the concentration of dissolved salts. Salinity varies significantly between seas due to factors like evaporation, which increases salinity, and rainfall and snowmelt, which decrease salinity.
Tides
Tides are regular, cyclical variations in sea level caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun.
During new and full moons, when the Earth, sun, and moon are aligned, their combined gravitational pull creates stronger spring tides.
During the first and third quarter moons, the sun’s influence weakens the moon’s pull, resulting in less intense neap tides.
Climate and Weather
Climate refers to the long-term weather pattern in a specific area.
Weather describes the daily changes in atmospheric conditions.
Venezuela’s Climatic Regions
Tropical Rainforest Climate
A wet climate found in the Guiana Highlands, Amazon Territory, and the western plains (llanos) of Apure, south of Miranda state, northern Guárico, and south of the Orinoco basin.
Savanna Climate
Characterized by 7-8 months of rain, continuing until the end of November (semi-dry), this climate is found in the southern foothills of the Andes and the coast, and the mountains of Falcón, Lara, and Yaracuy.
Temperate Highland Climate
Experiences a dry season once a year (ranging from semi-dry to super-humid) and is located in the upper levels of the coastal mountain range and the mid-altitude regions of the Andes, such as Mérida, Tovar, and Mucuchíes.