Drainage Basins Flashcards

1
Q

what is a drainage basin?

A

it is the area surrounding the river where the rain falling on the land flows into that river, the area is also called the river’s catchment

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2
Q

what is the watershed?

A

this is the boundary of the drainage basin where any precipitation falling beyond this enters a different drainage basin

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3
Q

how does water enter and leave the system

A

it enters as precipitation and leaves via evaporation, transpiration and river discharge

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4
Q

what is interception?

A

interception is when precipitation lands on vegetation or impermeable surfaces before reaching the soil, it is only temporary because it can be evaporated quickly

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5
Q

what is vegetation storage?

A

vegetation storage is the water taken up by plants

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6
Q

what is surface storage?

A

surface storage is water in puddles, ponds and lakes

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7
Q

what is groundwater?

A

groundwater is water stored in soil or in rocks

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8
Q

what is channel storage?

A

channel storage is the water held in a river or stream channel

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9
Q

what is infiltration?

A

infiltration is water soaking into the soil, the rates of affected by soil type, structure and saturation levels

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10
Q

what is surface runoff?

A

surface runoff is water flowing over the land, rain is falling faster than infiltration can occur

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11
Q

what is throughfall?

A

throughfall is water dripping from one leaf to another

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12
Q

what is stemflow?

A

stemflow is water running down a stem or trunk

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13
Q

what is throughflow?

A

throughflow is water slowly moving slowly downhill through the soil

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14
Q

what is percolation?

A

percolation is water seeping down through the soil into the water table

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15
Q

what is groundwater flow?

A

groundwater flow is water flowing slowly below the water table through permeable rock

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16
Q

what is baseflow?

A

baseflow is the groundwater flow that feeds into rivers through river banks and river beds

17
Q

what is interflow?

A

interflow is water flowing downhill through permeable rock above the water table

18
Q

what is channel flow/river discharge?

A

this is the water flowing in the river or stream itself

19
Q

what is the water balance?

A

this is the amount of inputs and outputs in a system, more inputs than outputs creates a water surplus and more outputs than inputs creates a water deficit