Systems concepts and their application to the water and carbon cycles: inputs, outputs, energy, stores/components, flows/transfers
Geographers treat the water cycle and carbon cycle as systems. Each system has stores where water or carbon sits, flows that move it between stores, inputs that bring material in, and outputs that take it out.
Real World
The Amazon rainforest acts as a massive carbon store, holding an estimated 150–200 billion tonnes of carbon in its biomass, while simultaneously transferring water to the atmosphere through evapotranspiration — releasing around 20 billion tonnes of water vapour daily.
Exam Focus
Define each systems term separately — examiners award one mark per correct definition, so never merge stores and flows.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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