Systems and River Regime (A level Geography)

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A system comprises of input, processes and outputs. The scale can range from the universe to the earth as well as the global hydrological system to a single drainage basin.

Global hydrological system- refers to the worlds movement of energy and moisture circulating the land, sea and atmosphere. There are various stores, be it the oceans or ice caps- and flows or transfers, including evaporation and condensation. These move the water between the stores, in the hydrological cycle. It is an open system as there is a continuous circulation of all water- its main input of energy from the sun. However amount of water in stores can alternate depending on spatial and temporal variations. Effectively there should be no gains or losses within the cycle due to the fixed water content. Inputs, outputs and sediments make it an open system.

The drainage basin hydrological cycle- watersheds and the sea form significant boundaries in this open system. Inputs include energy and precipitation with water and eroded material outputs. These are some characteristics of a single river basin.

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