Hydrological cycle Flashcards
Hydrological cycle
Is the constant cycling of water in the solid, liquid and gaseous states.
Precipitation
Water which falls from the sky as either snow, hail, sleet or rain.
Surface runoff
The flow of water over the land surface or within a river channel
Groundwater
A store of water deep in the ground this provides the water table as well as base flow in a river’s lower course.
Throughflow
The movement of water through the soil once it has been absorbed by the ground.
Interception
The process of trees and other items preventing precipitation from reaching the ground.
Transpiration
Release of water vapour into the atmosphere by plants
Evaporation
Water being transferred from a liquid to a gas after being heated by the sun.
Condensation
Water vapour becoming water droplets at altitude after the vapour has cooled.
Infiltration
The process of water being absorbed into the ground.
Ice
The storage of water on land in its frozen state
The ocean
The largest store of water on Earth.
