Ch.11 Key Terms Flashcards
surface water
water that collects on the surface of the ground.
river system
In geomorphology, drainage systems, also known as river systems
watershed
A drainage basin is any area of land where precipitation collects and drains off into a common outlet
groundwater
water held underground in the soil or in pores and crevices in rock.
aquifer
a body of permeable rock which can contain or transmit groundwater.
porosity
Porosity or void fraction is a measure of the void
permeability
the state or quality of a material or membrane that causes it to allow liquids or gases to pass through it.
recharge zone
The area in which water enters an aquifer
potable
safe to drink; drinkable.
pathogen
a bacterium, virus, or other microorganism that can cause disease.
dam
a barrier constructed to hold back water and raise its level, forming a reservoir used to generate electricity or as a water supply.
reservoir
A reservoir is most commonly an enlarged natural or artificial lake created using a dam to store water.
desolation
Desalination is a process that takes away mineral components from saline water
water pollution
Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies, usually as a result of human activities.
point source pollution
A point source of pollution is a single identifiable source of air, water, thermal, noise or light pollution.
non point source pollution
Excess fertilizers, herbicides and insecticides from agricultural lands and residential areas.
waste water
Wastewater is any water that has been contaminated by human use.
artificial eutrophication
occurs when human activity introduces increased amounts of these nutrients
thermal pollution
Thermal pollution, sometimes called “thermal enrichment,”
biomagnification
the concentration of toxins in an organism as a result of its ingesting other plants or animals in which the toxins are more widely disbursed.
