Glossary Flashcards

1
Q

Evaporation

A

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

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2
Q

Hydrogen bonds

A

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

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3
Q

Anomalous expansion

A

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

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4
Q

Residence time

A

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

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5
Q

Aquifer

A

An underground rock structure from which water is abstracted

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6
Q

Reservoir

A

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

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7
Q

Transfer rate

A

Te volume of material moved from one reservoir from another

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8
Q

Precipitation

A

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

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9
Q

Throughflow

A

The sideways movement of water in the ground

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10
Q

Interception

A

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

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11
Q

Infiltration

A

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

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12
Q

Percolation

A

The movement of water between the particles of soil or rock

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13
Q

Groundwater flow

A

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

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14
Q

River channel discharge

A

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

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15
Q

Abstraction

A

The removal of water from the location where it was found

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16
Q

Irrigation

A

Artificial watering of plants, especially crops

17
Q

Potable

A

Water that is suitable for drinking

18
Q

TSS

A

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

19
Q

Pathogen

A

An organism that causes disease

20
Q

Coliform count

A

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

21
Q

Catchment area

A

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

22
Q

Anaerobic

A

A process or organism hat does not require oxygen

23
Q

Topography

A

The 3D shape of the landscape

24
Q

Porosity

A

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

25
Permeability
A measure of the rate at which a fluid can flow through rock
26
Subsidence
The collapse of the ground surface caused by undermining or a reduction in aquifer rock volume following the over abstraction of water
27
Osmotic dehydration
The loss of water, especially from crop roots, caused by the low water potential of soils with a high salt content
28
Osmosis
The diffusion of water through a partially permeable membrane from an area of high water potential to an area of low water potential