Chapter 10 Flashcards
the loss of water vapor as it moves from the soil through green plants and exits through leaf pores, or stomata?
Evaporation and transpiration
What is another name for water cycle?
Hydrological cycle
Water returning to land
Condensation and precipitation
Humidity
Amount of water in the air
Relative humidity
the amount of water vapor as a percentage of what the air can hold at a particular temperature.
Condensation
Opposite of evaporation
Aerosols
are microscopic liquid or solids particles originating from land and water surfaces.
Adiabetic cooling
When warm air rises, cools, and expands
Adiabetic warming
Occurs when air descends and is compressed
Global convention currents
near the equator rays are almost perpendicular to Earth’s surface
Hadley cells
Trade winds
Rain shadow
formation of the severest deserts in the world
Capillary soil
The water may be held in the soil (amount depends
on the water-holding capacity of the soil)
Percolation
infiltrating water that is not held in the soil
The upper surface
Water table
Aquifers
are layers of porous material through which ground water moves
Recharge area
the area where water enters an aquifer
Ogallala aquifer
probably the largest aquifer in the world.
Seep
water flows out over a relatively wide area
Spring
water exit’s the ground as a significant flow from a relatively small opening.
Sinkhole
results when an underground cavern, drained of its supporting groundwater, suddenly collapses.
Land subsidence
a gradual settling of the land
Surge flood
uses computers to control the periodic release of water instead of a continuous flood method
Xeriscaping
landscaping with desert species That require no additional watering.
Freshwater
Water having salt concentration below .1%
Salt water
Water that contains more than 3% salt
Brackish
Mix of fresh and salt water
Infiltration-runoff ratio
The amount that soaks in compared with the amount
that runs off
Watershed
All the land area that contributes water to a
particular stream or river
Consumptive use
the applied water does not return to the water resource
No consumptive use
remains available to humans
Saltwater intrusion
occurs where the aquifers open up into the ocean.
