Drainage basins and rivers

Question 0

Surface storage

Answer 0

Water stored in lakes, reservoirs or puddles.

Question 1

Drainage basin hydrological cycle

Answer 1

The cycle of water on a drainage basin scale. An open hydrological cycle.

Question 2

Soil storage

Answer 2

Water stored in soil.

Question 3

Groundwater storage

Answer 3

Water stored underground in bed rock.

Question 4

Throughflow

Answer 4

Water travelling through soil.

Question 5

Percolation

Answer 5

Water infiltrating from the soil into the bed rock.

Question 6

Groundwater flow

Answer 6

Water travelling through the bed rock.

Question 7

Water table

Answer 7

The upper surface of groundwater.

Question 8

Pipeflow

Answer 8

Where water follows roots of vegetation.

Question 9

Throughfall

Answer 9

Intercepted water dripping from vegetation to the ground.

Question 10

Vegetation storage

Answer 10

Water stored in vegetation.

Question 11

Water balance

Answer 11

Balance between precipitation and evapotranspiration.

Question 12

Flashy hydrograph

Answer 12

Fast reacting

Question 13

Subdued hydrogaph

Answer 13

Slow reaction time.

Question 14

Wetted perimeter

Answer 14

The perimeter of the river that is in contact with the river bed.

Question 15

Hydraulic radius =

Answer 15

Cross sectional area /

Wetted perimeter

Question 16

River capacity

Answer 16

The volume of load a river can carry.

Question 17

River competence

Answer 17

The diameter of the largest piece of load a river would be able to carry at a certain velocity.

Question 18

Calibre

Answer 18

The size of a particular piece of load.

Question 19

Rejuvenation

Answer 19

When there is a change in a rivers base height giving the river increased erosive power.

Question 20

Eustatic sea level change

Answer 20

Sea level changes due to ice sheets forming or melting causing sea level to be lower or higher.

Question 21

Isostatic rebound

Answer 21

Caused by ice sheets weight, when released the land will rebound upwards.

Question 22

Dynamic equilibrium

Answer 22

A balance between erosion and deposition rivers are always trying to achieve.

Question 23

Knickpoint

Answer 23

An irregularity in a rivers gradient between the rejuvenated and unrejuvenated sections of the river.

Question 24

River terraces

Answer 24

Where a rejuvenated river erodes below the old level of the floodplain.

Question 25

Entrenched meanders

Answer 25

Where meanders are found within a steep valley. Where rejuvenation happens extremely rapidly.

Question 26

Ingrown meanders

Answer 26

Where meanders are found in valleys steep at one side and shallower on the other. Where rejuvenation happens relatively rapidly.

Question 27

Braided channels

Answer 27

Where deposition occurs in the river channel to the extent that small, semi permanent islands form.

Question 28

Arcuate deltas

Answer 28

Where a delta protrudes into the ocean and distributaries and braided channels form.

Question 29

Cuspate deltas

Answer 29

Where the delta protrudes into the ocean but prevailing winds meeting prevent it from spreading.

Question 30

Birds foot delta

Answer 30

Where fingers of deposition spread into the sea.

Question 31

Interlocking spurs

Answer 31

When a river bends around hard rock, usually in the form of hills and ridges.

Question 32

Rapids

Answer 32

Occur when gradient increases or there are hard and soft rock bands across the river.