Factors Affecting Transfer And Stores Of Matter In A Drainage Basin

Question 1

What are the 7 factors that affect stores and transfer of matter in a drainage basin

Answer 1

Urban areas
Seasons
Soil type
Rainfall
Geology
Relief

Question 2

Nemonic for the 7 factors

Answer 2

USSR GR

Question 3

Describe the affect of vegetation

Answer 3

THICK vegetation creates MORE opportunities for interception and evaporation from the leaves of trees
Any water that doesn’t reach the ground directly will take longer to go through the system

Question 4

Describe the affect of soil type

Answer 4

POROUS (permeable) soils allow water to pass through and infiltrate quickly as the have big spaces within them SAND

NON POROUS (impermeable) soils do not allow water to infiltrate which means the rate of overland flow increases and the water reaches the river faster, increasing the chances of flooding CLAY

Question 5

Describe the affect of seasons

Answer 5

WARMER temperatures of summer encourage MORE evapotranspiration which lowers the discharge levels in the river

HOT days reduces infiltration as the soil becomes hard baked
COLD days reduces infiltration as the soil becomes frozen

LEAVES FALLING in autumn reduces interception and more water reaches the ground directly, therefore reaching the river channel faster

Question 6

Describe the affect of geology

Answer 6

POROUS (permeable) rock increases percolation and groundwater flow. This reduces the soil store and the amount of water transferred by overland flow, which means water takes a longer time to reach the river channel and the risk of flooding is reduced

Question 7

Describe the affect of urban areas

Answer 7

LESS VEGETATION
LESS INTERCEPTION
LESS INFILTRATION
Due to the impermeable surfaces (tarmac)
Water travels directly to the via overland flow, drains and sewers
This increases the risk of flooding

Question 8

Describe the affect of relief

Answer 8

STEEPER drainage basin means less opportunities for infiltration so surface runoff dominates

LOWLAND areas have more infiltration and water remains in the soil store for longer before being transferred via throughflow

Question 9

Describe the affect of rainfall

Answer 9

HEAVY, INTENSE RAINFALL
rain may fall at a faster rate than the soil can accommodate infiltration
Soil may become saturated and waterlogged as infiltration capacity reached
Leading to the main transfer of overland flow