2.1.2: The drainage basin as a system

Question 1

Drainage basin

Answer 1

Catchment area for precipitation which is drained by a particular stream or river

Question 2

Drainage basin type of system

Answer 2

Open system

Allows energy and matter to be transferred across the border.

Question 3

Types of precipitation

6

Answer 3

rain
snow
sleet
hail
frost
dew

Question 4

Which factors of precipitation affect the response of the drainage basin
2

Answer 4

duration and intensity

Question 5

Common type of rainfall in the UK

Answer 5

low intensity, long duration

Question 6

Evapotranspiration

Answer 6

The loss of water from a drainage basin into the atmosphere from the leaves of plants and loss from evaporation

Question 7

Precipitation

Answer 7

All forms of moisture that reach the earth’s surface

Question 8

Vegetation storage

Answer 8

This is water taken up by vegetation and it is all the moisture in vegetation in any one time.

Question 9

Interception store

Answer 9

Temporary storage of precipitation on buildings, vegetation and concrete before it reaches the soil or evaporates

Question 10

Channel storage

Answer 10

The water held in a river or stream channel

Question 11

Channel flow

Answer 11

The movement of water within the river channel

Question 12

Channel flow aka

Answer 12

river discharge

Question 13

Surface storage

Answer 13

The total volume of water held on the Earth’s surface in lakes, ponds and puddles

Question 14

Stem (through) flow

Answer 14

Water running down a plant stem or tree trunk

Question 15

Soil moisture store

Answer 15

Moisture stored in the soil

Question 16

Infiltration

Answer 16

The downward movement of water into the soil surface

Question 17

Percolation

Answer 17

The gravity flow of water within the soil

Question 18

Groundwater storage

Answer 18

The storage of water underground in permeable rock strata

Question 19

Groundwater flow

Answer 19

The deeper the movement of water through underlying permeable rock strata below the water table

Question 20

Transpiration

Answer 20

Evaporation from plant leaves

Question 21

Evaporation

Answer 21

The transformation of water droplets into water vapour by heating

Question 22

Through flow

Answer 22

The movement of water downslope within the soil layer

Question 23

Baseflow

Answer 23

Water that reaches the channel largely through slow throughflow and from permeable rock below the water table

Question 24

Interflow

Answer 24

Water flowing downhill through permeable rock above the water table

Question 25

Surface runoff

Answer 25

The movement of water over the surface of land, usually when the ground is saturated or frozen or when precipitation is too intense for infiltration to occur.

Question 26

Surface runoff aka

Answer 26

overland flow

Question 27

Saturation excess overland flow caused by

Answer 27

result of continued rainfall for a long time

Question 28

Infiltration-excess overland flow caused by

Answer 28

occurs when rainfall intensity is so great that not all water can infiltrate it

Question 29

What can infiltration-excess overland flow lead to

Answer 29

flash floods

Question 30

Tropical rainforest trees effect on drainage basin

Answer 30

Enable rainfall to run off quickly by providing unstable surfaces

Question 31

Pluvial flooding

Answer 31

Flooding events caused by the collection of large amounts of surface water in urban areas when the ground is ineffective at absorbing water or urban drainage systems are overwhelmed

Question 32

Hygroscopic water

Answer 32

This water adhering in thin films by molecular attraction to the surface of soil particles and is a relatively insignificant form of water storage.

Question 33

Capillary water

Answer 33

This is water forming thicker films and occupying the smaller spaces in the soil, it is held against the force of gravity by surface tension.

Question 34

Gravitational water

Answer 34

The excess water that occupies all large and usually free-draining spaces in the soil and is not permanent.

Question 35

Transitory

Answer 35

not permanent

Question 36

Field capacity

Answer 36

The total amount of water remaining in a freely drained soil after all gravity water has been drained away following the end of rainfall.

Question 37

Wilting point

Answer 37

When there is insufficient soil water to compensate for plant water losses from transpiration.

Question 38

Type of influences on storm hydrographs | 2

Answer 38

climatic | non-climatic

Question 39

Climatic influences on storm hydrographs | 2

Answer 39

Rainfall intensity and duration

Question 40

Non-climatic influences on storm hydrographs | 5

Answer 40

``` rock type slope angle vegetation drainage density soil depth ```

Question 41

Orographic rainfall

Answer 41

When air is forced to rise over a barrier such as a mountain, it cools and condenses forming rain

Question 42

Convectional rainfall

Answer 42

Common in tropical areas in the UK during summer, when the land becomes hot, the air above it becomes warmer, expands and rises. As it rises, the air cools and then condenses and rains.

Question 43

Frontal rainfall

Answer 43

Occurs when warm air is forced to rise over cold air and it loses its ability to hold water and it rains.

Question 44

3 type of rainfall

Answer 44

Orographic rainfall Frontal rainfall Convectional rainfall

Question 45

Warm air vs cold air

Answer 45

lighter and less dense (warm0 | heavier and more dense (cold)

Question 46

Causes of excess runoff generation | 4

Answer 46

snowmelt ice ablation storm activity monsoon

Question 47

Case study of a drainage basin

Answer 47

Colorado river

Question 48

Colorado river location

Answer 48

South West USA | starts in Colorado then Utah, Arizona, Nevada, California

Question 49

Lower course of Colorado river location

Answer 49

Mexico

Question 50

River regime

Answer 50

the annual variations in a river's discharge

Question 51

Storm hydrograph

Answer 51

Shows what happens to a river's discharge as a result of heavy rainfall