lesson 6- drainage basins + river basins Flashcards
are drainage basins open or closed systems?
open
inputs and outputs for drainage basins
inputs-precipitation
outputs-evapotranspiration
-river discharge
what is vegetation storage?
total volume of water stored in the basins vegetation at one time
what is overland flow?
water travels across the surface of impermeable ground
what is infiltration?
water seeps into the soil through cracks and breaks in the surface
what is throughflow?
where water moves downhill through soil under the influence of gravity
what is percolation?
water continues to seep down into the water table
what is stemflow?
Water that runs down the stem of plants or tree trunks
what is throughfall?
water drips of leaves from interception
what is a drainage basin?
the area surrounding a river where the river gets its water(catchment)
what is the confluence?
where 2 rivers meet
e.g. the rio de negro+ the Nile
what is a tributary?
a small river or stream that joins a larger river.
what is the watershed?
the area of high land forming the edge of a river basin.
