Catchment Hydrology

Question 1

Nearly all rocks are porous and can hold water in them. What do you call the depth at which soil or rock is fully saturated (all pore spaces are filled with water)?

Answer 1

Water Table

Question 2

_______ is the flow of water down the trunk or stem of vegetation to allow water to the ground.

Answer 2

Stemflow

Question 3

What is Darcy’s Law?
A. Law used to measure movement of glaciers
B. Law used to measure the amount of water (or other fluid) flowing through a substance
C. Law used to measure the change in water storage

Answer 3

B. Law used to measure the amount of water flowing through a substance
Darcy’s law allows us to calculate the rate of water movement through a porous substance when it is saturated

Question 4

What is the phase change of water turning from liquid to gas called?

Answer 4

Evaporation

Question 5

What process is this?
Water being lost from a plant through its leaves

Answer 5

Evapotranspiration

Question 6

In New Zealand, what percentage of groundwater sites have nitrate levels above protection thresholds for aquatic ecosystems?
A. 5%
B. 11%
C. 15%
D. 20%

Answer 6

B. 11%

Question 7

The primary concern for New Zealand rivers associated with agricultural intensification is:

A. Carbon dioxide
B. Nitrate and Phosphorus
C. Potassium
D. Sulfur

Answer 7

B. Nitrate and Phosphorus
Prosperous is not toxic to humans
Nitrate is usually considered to be toxic- except at 10 mg at nitrates per Liter (50miligrams)

Question 8

The main water quality concerns related to agriculture include:

A. Reduced soil erosion
B. Waterborne illnesses, excess nutrients, and toxic pollution
C. Increased biodiversity
D. Lower agricultural productivity

Answer 8

B. Waterborne illnesses, excess nutrients, and toxic pollution