Glossary

Question 1

Evaporation

Answer 1

The change in state of water from a liquid to a gas as hydrogen bonds are broken

Question 2

Hydrogen bonds

Answer 2

The weak electrostatic bond formed between water molecules which gives water a high boiling point

Question 3

Anomalous expansion

Answer 3

Unusual expansion, usually applied to water, which expands as it cools down below 4 degrees celcius

Question 4

Residence time

Answer 4

The average length of time that a molecule remains in a reservoir

Question 5

Aquifer

Answer 5

An underground rock structure from which water is abstracted

Question 6

Reservoir

Answer 6

The general name for a storage location for any material eg. nitrogen, crude oil, iron.
The term is also used for the stored water retained by a dam

Question 7

Transfer rate

Answer 7

Te volume of material moved from one reservoir from another

Question 8

Precipitation

Answer 8

Condensation of atmospheric water vapour that reaches the earths surface in any liquid or solid form

Question 9

Throughflow

Answer 9

The sideways movement of water in the ground

Question 10

Interception

Answer 10

Precipitation that does not reach the ground because t lands on vegetation

Question 11

Infiltration

Answer 11

The process by which surface water enters the ground between particles of soil or rock

Question 12

Percolation

Answer 12

The movement of water between the particles of soil or rock

Question 13

Groundwater flow

Answer 13

The movement of water through the pore spaces ad fissures in permeable rocks

Question 14

River channel discharge

Answer 14

The volume of water flowing past a particular point on a river and is a product of cross sectional area and mean water velocity

Question 15

Abstraction

Answer 15

The removal of water from the location where it was found

Question 16

Irrigation

Answer 16

Artificial watering of plants, especially crops

Question 17

Potable

Answer 17

Water that is suitable for drinking

Question 18

TSS

Answer 18

The total amount of organic and inorganic material suspended in a volume of water

Question 19

Pathogen

Answer 19

An organism that causes disease

Question 20

Coliform count

Answer 20

A measure of sewage pollution based in the presence of the faecal bacterium E.COLI

Question 21

Catchment area

Answer 21

The area f land that collects water which will flow down t the lowest point eg. river, lake, aquifer, sea

Question 22

Anaerobic

Answer 22

A process or organism hat does not require oxygen

Question 23

Topography

Answer 23

The 3D shape of the landscape

Question 24

Porosity

Answer 24

A measure of the percentage of the volume of a rock that is space

Question 25

Permeability

Answer 25

A measure of the rate at which a fluid can flow through rock

Question 26

Subsidence

Answer 26

The collapse of the ground surface caused by undermining or a reduction in aquifer rock volume following the over abstraction of water

Question 27

Osmotic dehydration

Answer 27

The loss of water, especially from crop roots, caused by the low water potential of soils with a high salt content

Question 28

Osmosis

Answer 28

The diffusion of water through a partially permeable membrane from an area of high water potential to an area of low water potential