HYDROLOGIC PROCESSES Flashcards
liquid/solid water that falls to the ground from the atmosphere
precipitation
amount of precipitation that falls
intensity
length of time precipitation lasts
duration
amount of precipitation that falls but never reaches the ground
interception
water falls through gaps in vegetation
throughfall
water trickles along twigs and branches and down the trunk
stemflow
diffusion of water vaper into the atmosphere from plants
evapotranspiration
precipitation soaks into soil where it is temporarily stored
inflitration
volume of flow per unit time through a given cross section
runoff/discharge
conversion of potential energy to kinetic energy as water drops under the influence of gravity
slope and velocity are directly proportional
flow velocity
-runoff caused by layers of water moving at different velocities
- generated by varying resistance
hydraulic shear
fluid flows in parallel layers w/o disruption
laminar flow
produces chaotic eddies, vortices, and other flow instabilities
turbulent flows
- involves movement of rock/soil
- ability of streams to carry sediments
sediment transport
maximum load of sediment that the stream can transport
capacity
maximum size of particles capable of transporting
competence
- mature stream winding freely on a broad flood plain
- one single channel
- low gradient, high sinuosity
- sediments are deposited at the inner sides of meander bends
meandering streams
deposits of gravel and coarse sand found on the channel floor
lag deposits
deposits of finer sand the settle along the inner bends of the river
point bars
