Hydrology 1 n 2 Flashcards
Definition: Hydrology
The science of water that deals with its occurrence, circulation, and distribution on Earth and in the atmosphere.
Definition: Scientific hydrology
The theoretical study of water movement, occurrence, and distribution.
Definition: Engineering hydrology
The practical application of hydrological principles in engineering projects.
Definition: Hydrologic cycle
The continuous movement of water through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, and runoff.
Definition: Evaporation
The process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas at temperatures below its boiling point.
Definition: Condensation
The process by which water vapor changes into liquid water, forming clouds and precipitation.
Definition: Precipitation
Any form of water (rain, snow, sleet, hail) falling from the atmosphere to Earth’s surface.
Definition: Runoff
Water that flows over the land surface toward streams, lakes, or oceans.
Definition: Infiltration
The process by which water soaks into the soil and replenishes groundwater.
Definition: Transpiration
The release of water vapor from plants into the atmosphere.
Definition: Percolation
The movement of water through soil and porous rock layers.
Definition: Water table
The upper boundary of the saturated zone in the ground where soil and rock are filled with water.
Definition: Aquifer
A water-bearing rock formation that can transmit water to wells and springs.
Definition: Saltwater intrusion
The movement of saltwater into freshwater aquifers due to over-pumping or rising sea levels.
Fill in the blank: The hydrologic cycle is driven by __.
solar energy.
Fill in the blank: The process where water enters the ground and becomes groundwater is called __.
infiltration.
Fill in the blank: __ occurs when precipitation is not absorbed by the soil and moves across the land surface.
Runoff.
Definition: Precipitation
Any form of water (liquid or solid) that falls from the atmosphere to Earth’s surface.
Definition: Rain
Liquid precipitation in the form of water droplets larger than 0.5 mm in diameter.
Definition: Drizzle
Fine, light rain with water droplets smaller than 0.5 mm in diameter.
Definition: Snow
Frozen precipitation consisting of ice crystals that combine to form flakes.
Definition: Hail
Irregular ice pellets or lumps larger than 8 mm, formed in strong thunderstorms.
Definition: Sleet
Frozen raindrops that take the form of clear ice grains.
Definition: Glaze
A layer of ice formed when rain or drizzle freezes on contact with a cold surface.
Definition: Rain gauge
An instrument used to measure the amount of precipitation over a given period.
Definition: Tipping-bucket rain gauge
A recording rain gauge that measures rainfall intensity using a bucket mechanism.
Definition: Weighing-bucket rain gauge
A recording rain gauge that measures rainfall by weighing collected water.
Definition: Convective precipitation
Rainfall caused by rising warm air, often leading to thunderstorms.
Definition: Orographic precipitation
Rainfall caused when moist air is lifted over a mountain range, cooling and condensing.
Definition: Cyclonic precipitation
Precipitation caused by large-scale air movements, such as tropical storms and monsoons.
Fill in the blank: __ is a rain gauge that uses a funnel and a float to measure precipitation.
Natural-siphon rain gauge.
Fill in the blank: __ is the most common type of precipitation.
Rain.
Fill in the blank: The __ monsoon brings heavy rainfall to the Philippines during the wet season.
Southwest (Habagat).
Fill in the blank: A __ is a boundary between two air masses where precipitation often occurs.
Front.
Fill in the blank: The __ method estimates the average precipitation over a catchment using weighted areas around rain gauges.
Thiessen polygon method.
Identification: This weather system in the Philippines brings cold winds from the northeast, affecting the eastern side of the country.
Northeast Monsoon (Amihan).
Identification: This tropical weather system is also called a typhoon in Southeast Asia and a hurricane in the U.S.
Tropical cyclone.
Identification: The belt of low pressure where trade winds from both hemispheres converge, affecting the Philippines.
Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).
Identification: The most widely used type of rain gauge in India, which operates using a siphoning mechanism.
Natural-siphon rain gauge.
