Geo exam revision Flashcards
Infiltration
The initial entry of rainwater into the ground surface
evaporation
Sun warms the water and warm, moist air rises
precipitation
Water droplets fall as rain, snow, sleet and hail
transpiration
Plants take in water and return some to the air
Ground water storage
Some of the water that infiltrates underground is stored as ground water in aquifers.
condensation
Moist air cools and forms water droplets in the clouds
Run off
Most of the rain water runs off the surface of the land and collects in streams, rivers, lakes and ponds
percolation
The movement of water through the soil and rock to join groundwater reserves
What is orographic rainfall
It is where warm air is forced to rise up onto the mountain where it cools down and becomes clouds and rain
what is frontal rainfall
It is where cold air and warm air meet forcing the warm air to rise up
what is convectional rainfall
Convection rainfall is caused by the sun heating up the ground and also the water in the air to rise
What does BOLTSS stand for
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Slow-Onset Floods
usually last for a long period; one week- a month. Impacts include damage to agriculture and infrastructure. Usually occur on flat topography.
Rapid-Onset Floods
last a shorter period (one or two days). This flood can cause a lot more damage and risk to life and property as people have less time to take preventative action. Usually occur in hilly or mountainous topography.
Flash floods
these floods occur within minutes or hours of heavy rainfall, tropical storms and failure of infrastructure eg. dams, levees. These cause the greatest damage to society.
