1. Hydrology and Fluvial Morphology Key Terms Flashcards
9696 - Cambridge AS Geography
Drainage Basin System
An area of land defined by a ridge line (watershed) that channels all surface water to a single collection point, like a river mouth, lake, or ocean.
Outputs
Water that leaves the drainage basin system.
Evaporation
The process where liquid water changes into a gas and enters the atmosphere.
Evapotranspiration
The combined process of evaporation (from the soil and water surfaces) and transpiration (release of water vapor from plants).
River Discharge
The volume of water flowing past a specific point in a river at a given time.
Stores
Locations within the drainage basin system where water is temporarily held.
Interception
Water caught by vegetation leaves and branches, which evaporates back into the atmosphere.
Soil Water
Water held in the spaces between soil particles.
Surface Water
Water visible on the Earth’s surface, like in streams, lakes, and oceans.
Groundwater
Water stored underground in saturated rock and soil layers.
Channel Storage
Water temporarily held within the channel of a river or stream.
Flows
The movement of water within the drainage basin system.
Throughfall
Precipitation that drips through the canopy of vegetation and reaches the ground.
Stemflow
Precipitation that runs down the stems of plants and reaches the ground.
Overland Flow
Water that flows over the land surface because infiltration cannot keep up with precipitation.
Channel Flow
Water moving within the channel of a river or stream.
Infiltration
The process of water soaking into the ground.
Percolation
The downward movement of infiltrated water through soil and rock layers.
Throughflow
Water that moves laterally through soil layers above the water table.
Baseflow
Groundwater that slowly discharges into streams and rivers, contributing to their flow even during dry periods.
Water Table
The upper boundary of the saturated zone in an aquifer.
Groundwater Recharge
The process by which water infiltrates the ground and replenishes the groundwater table.
Springs
Places where groundwater naturally flows out of the ground.
Discharge Relationships
How the volume of water flowing out of a drainage basin (discharge) changes over time in response to various factors.