Hydrology and Fluvial Geomorphology Flashcards

1
Q

open system

A

allows the movement of energy and matter across its boundaries

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2
Q

precipitation

A

conversion and transfer of moisture in the atmsophere to the land
snow/hail/rain/frost/dew

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3
Q

stores

A
vegetation
surface
soil moisture
groundwater
water channels
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4
Q

characteristics that affect local hydrology

A
total amount of precipitation
intensity
type
geographical distribution
variability
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5
Q

interception

A

interception loss
throughfall
stemflow

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6
Q

evaporation

A

process by whcih a liquid or solid is changed into a gas

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7
Q

factors affecting evaporation

A
albedo
temperature
wind speeds
humidity
vegetation cover
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8
Q

transpiration

A

evaporation + transpiration

water vapour escapes from a living plant

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9
Q

potential evapotranspiration

A

potential evapotranspiration is the water loss that would occur if there was an unlimited supply of water in the soil for use by the vegetation

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10
Q

infiltration

A

water soaks into or is absorbed by soil

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11
Q

infiltration capacity

A

the maximum rate at which rain can be absorbed by a soil in a given condition

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12
Q

factors affecting infiltration

A
duration of rainfall
antecedent soil moisture
soil porosity
vegetation cover 
raindrop size
slope angle
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13
Q

percolation

A

when water moves slowly downwards from the soil into the bedrock

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14
Q

phreatic zone

A

permanently saturated zone within solid rocks and sediments is known as the phreatic zone

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15
Q

aeration zone

A

seasonally wetted and dried zone

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16
Q

baseflow

A

part of a rivers discharge provided by groundwater seeping into the river

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17
Q

aquifers

A

permeable rocks (ie. sandstone and limestone) that contain significant quantities of water

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18
Q

flow of a river is influenced by

A
amount and nature of precipitation 
local rocks' porosity and permeability 
shape (morphology), slope and area of the drainage basin
amount and type of vegetation cover
amount and type of soil cover
climate
19
Q

flood hydrograph

A

shows how the discharge of a river varies over a short time

20
Q

time lag

A

time between the height of the storm and the maximum flow

21
Q

peak flow

A

maximum discharge of the river

22
Q

factors affecting storm hydrographs

A
precipitation type and intensity
temperature and evapotranspiration
antecedent moisture
drainage basin size and shape
drainage density
porosity and impermeability of rocks and soils
slopes
vegetation type
land use
23
Q

critical erosion velocity

A

lowest velocity at which grains of a given size can be moved

24
Q

competence

A

diameter of the largest particle that can be carried

25
Q

reasons for deposition

A

a shallowing of gradient which decreases velocity and energy
decrease in the volume of water in the channel
increase in the friction between water and channel

26
Q

abrasion (corrasion)

A

wearing away of the bed and bank by the load carried by the river
depends on the concentration, hardness and energy of the impacting particles and the resistance of the bedrock

27
Q

attrition

A

wearing away of load carried by river

creates smaller, rounder particles

28
Q

hyrdraulic action

A
force of air and water on the sides of rivers and in cracks
includes cavitation (force of air exploding)
29
Q

solution (corrosion)

A

removal of chemical ions

affected by bedrock, solute concentration, discharge and velocity

30
Q

factors affecting erosion

A

load
velocity
gradient
geology (softer rocks easier to erode)
pH (corrosion faster when water is more acidic)
human impact (deforestation, dams and bridges increase rate of erosion)

31
Q

Manning’s Equation

A

Q = (AR^2/3 x S^1/2) / n

if bed roughness increases, velocity and discharge decrease

32
Q

Flows (3)

A

Laminar
Turbulent
Helicoidal

33
Q

Laminar Flow

A

smooth, straight channel with a low velocity

water flows in sheets parallel to the channel bed

34
Q

Turbulent Flow

A

higher velocities and features such as meanders
causes variations in pressure within the water
associated with hydraulic action
-> vertical turbulence may create potholes

35
Q

Helicoidal Flow

A

aka Horizontal turbulence

corkscrewing motion

36
Q

Sinuosity

A

length of a stream channel expressed as a ratio of the valley length

37
Q

Thalweg

A

line of maximum velocity

38
Q

Pools

A

Fine sediment deposited at low velocity by Eddies in turbulent water

39
Q

Riffles

A

Coarse sediment deposited at high velocity by Eddies in turbulent water

40
Q

Floatation

A

twigs and leaves

41
Q

Traction

A

rolling, discharge high, big objects ie rocks

42
Q

Saltation

A

bouncing, small sediment

43
Q

Suspension

A

suspended in the water

44
Q

Solution

A

dissolved in the water