erosion Flashcards
erosion
the geological process in which earthen materials are worn away and transported by natural forces such as wind or water.
weathering
the process of wearing or being worn by long exposure to the atmosphere.
water cycle
also known as the hydrologic cycle or the hydrological cycle, is a biogeochemical cycle that describes the continuous movement of water on, above and below the surface of the Earth
evaporation
the process of turning from liquid into vapor.
condensation
water which collects as droplets on a cold surface when humid air is in contact with it.
precipitation
water that falls from the atmosphere to the Earth’s surface.
surface runoff
the flow of water occurring on the ground surface when excess rainwater, stormwater, meltwater, or other sources, can no longer sufficiently rapidly infiltrate in the soil.
tributary
a river or stream flowing into a larger river or lake.
watershed
contains all the land and water features that drain excess surface water to a specific location on the landscape
continental divide
is a drainage divide on a continent such that the drainage basin on one side of the divide feeds into one ocean or sea, and the basin on the other side either feeds into a different ocean or sea, or else is endorheic, not connected to the open sea.
deposition
the action of deposing someone, especially a monarch.
delta
wetlands that form as rivers empty their water and sediment into another body of water,
floodplain
an area of flat land near a river that is often flooded when the river becomes too full.
water table
is the surface where the water pressure head is equal to the atmospheric pressure
sewage treatment plants
a type of wastewater treatment which aims to remove contaminants from sewage to produce an effluent that is suitable for discharge to the surrounding environment or an intended reuse application, thereby preventing water pollution from raw sewage discharges.