Key Terms Flashcards
The process by which water vapor changes to liquid
Condensation
The process by which liquid water changes to a gas. This
Evaporation
The total amount of output of water from the drainage basin directly back into the atmosphere
Evapotranspiration
The loss of water from vegetation through pores on their surfaces
Transpiration
Drainage basin
An area of land rained by a river and its tributaries. It includes water found on the surface, in the soil and its near surface geology.
The portion of precipitation intercepted by the canopy that reaches the ground by flowing down stems, stalks or tree boles.
Stem flow
The tendency of water to flow horizontally across land surfaces when rainfall has exceeded infiltration capacity of the soil and all surface stores are full to overflowing.
Overland flow
the movement of water downslope through the subsoil under the influence of gravity. Itis particularly effective when underlying permeable rock prevents further downward movement
Through flow
The slow movement of water through underlying rocks
Ground water flow
Run-off
All the water that enters a river channel and eventually flows out of the drainage basin
Percolation
The downward movement of water within the rock under the soil surface. Rates vary depending on the nature of the rock.
Infiltration
The downward movement of water from the surface into soil.
The maximum rate in which roils and rocks can absorb rainfall
Infiltration capacity
Interception store
The precipitation that falls on the vegetation surfaces r human made cover and is temporarily stored on these surfaces. Intercepted water either can be evaporate directly to the atmosphere or absorbed by the canopy surfaces or ultimately transmitted to ground surface
Surface store
Water stored on the surface of the ground
Soil store
Water stored within the soil
Saturated
Any water store that has reached max capacity
Storm event
Precipitation followed by 24 hours at least of no precipitation
Rainfall event
Precipitation followed by 4 hours at least of no precipitation
The portion of the precipitation that reaches the ground directly through gaps in the vegetation canopy and drips from leaves, twigs and stems. This occurs when the canopy surface rainwater storage exceeds its storage capacity.
Throughfall
The processes that affect the total mass of ice at any scale from local patches of frozen ground to global ice amounts.
Cryospheric processes
Water balance
The balance between inputs (precipitation) and outputs (run-off, evapotranspiration etc) in a drainage basin
