flows Flashcards
infiltration
when precipitation is absorbed into soil.
infiltration capacity
maximum rate at which soil can absorb precipitation in given conditions
percolation
process by which water slowly moves through soil into bedrock and under gravity.
percolation rate
depends on permeability and porosity of bedrock.
example: chalk and sand are porous which allows water to percolate easily
permeability
the rate of which water passes through soil
porosity
the percentage of open space in soil.
throughflow
water flows through soil in natural pipes or percolines occurs above bedrock
phreatic zone
an underground portion of soil under the water table where every gap, crack, and space is permentantly
saturated. it is part of an aquifer.
Aquifer
a layer of rock or sediment that can store underground water or allow it to pass through. it is below the water table.
baseflow
where groundwater seeps into a river bed and contributes to river discharge. the transfer from bedrock is incredibly slow and the throughflow is very deep. the process could take months/years
throughfall
when leaves and twigs become saturated so water drips from them, precipitation can also fall from the gaps in vegetation cover
stemflow
when precipitation is intercepted by vegetation which then runs down branches and main trunk.
overland flow
when soil is saturated or when precipitation exceeds the infiltration rate so surface runoff occurs where water flows over the surface
Hortonian flow
happens when precipitation has exceeded the infiltration capacity and the soil depression capacity resulting in shallow, luminar, fast-moving water that causes severe erosion
channel flow
movement of water in channels such as streams or rivers
