Freshwater Flashcards
Weathering
A process that breaks down or changes rocks on or near the earths surface
The water cycle
The continuous movement of water on the earth
Erosion
The movement of soil or sediment from one location to another, by forces like wind, water, or gravity.
Channel
A sloping pathway which water flows.
River
Wider, deeper and longer streams
Gradient
The measure of the change of elevation over a certain distance.
Load
The materials carried by a stream of water.
Meander
Bends and curves in a river.
Causes of a meander
Flowing water erodes soil from one river bank to another
Oxbow lake
C shaped section walled off from the rest of the river.
Deltas
Triangular shaped deposits made up of clay or silt particles.
Causes of deltas
When a river meets a large body of water.
Floodplane
Broad, flat, wide areas on either side of a river or stream
A levee
A high ride, usually made of soil and natural materials built along a riverbank.
-purpose is from keeping a river from overflowing.
Reservoirs
A natural or human made lake used to store water
Eutrophication
When a lake becomes overly rich in nutrients that are washed in from the surrounding watershed.
-leads to increase of algae.
irrigation
The application of water by humans to land to assist in the production of crops.
Wetlands
An area that is covered with water for a large part of the years.
Swamp
*type of wetland
Supports trees, shrubs or other woody plants.
Marsh
*type of wetland
Has more water than a swamp, few or no trees.
Bog
*type of wetland
An area of soaked spongy soil that may not be covered in water.
Groundwater
Water that is absorbed into the ground.
Aquifer
Ground water collected underground
Permeability
The ability of a material to let water pass through.
