Lesson 2 - Drainage Basin Cycles

Question 1

What are 5 key factors which affect a drainage basin?

Answer 1

Relief
Climate
Vegetation
Geology
Soils

Question 2

How does relief affect the drainage basin?

Answer 2

Affects total precipitation
Steep slopes influence rates of runoff

Question 3

How does climate affect the drainage basin?

Answer 3

Influences type + amount of precipitation
Dictates type + amount of vegetation
Affects rates of evapotranspiration

Question 4

How does vegetation affect the drainage basin?

Answer 4

Influences interception, infiltration + overland flow
Affects rate of transpiration

Question 5

How does geology affect the drainage basin?

Answer 5

Subsurface processes
Percolation, groundwater flow
Indirectly alters soil formations

Question 6

How does soil affect the drainage basin?

Answer 6

Determines rates of infiltration + throughflow
Affects dominant forms of vegetation

Question 7

What are the main inputs into the drainage basin?

Answer 7

Precipitation
Solar insolation

Question 8

What are the main outputs from the drainage basin?

Answer 8

Transpiration
Evapotranspiration
Evaporation
River flow + discharge

Question 9

What are the main stores within the drainage basin?

Answer 9

Intercepted water
Vegetation storage
Surface storage
Groundwater storage

Question 10

What are the main fluxes within the drainage basin?

Answer 10

Surface runoff
Infiltration
Percolation
Groundwater flow
Base flow
Throughflow + throughfall
Stem flow

Question 11

What is a drainage basin?

Answer 11

Area of land drained by the same major river