Midterm 2 Flashcards

1
Q

Thalweg

A

Where water velocity is maximum at the center

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2
Q

Which location has the highest residence time?

A

Icecaps/glaciers - 12,000 yrs

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3
Q

Floodplain

A

Area of low-lying ground adjacent to river, formed mainly of river sediments and subject to flooding

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4
Q

Base flow

A

Infiltration through soil and sediments that feeds into stream to maintain flow

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5
Q

Runs

A

Areas with rapidly moving water but with a smooth surface

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6
Q

Stream classification: Snowmelt

A
  • Seasonally strong on biota
  • Rare drying
  • Infrequent & predictable floods
  • High discharge predictability
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7
Q

Intermittent

A

Flowing some of the time and receiving water from groundwater

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8
Q

Riffles

A

Areas where influence of bottom can be seen at surface of flowing water; shallow or turbulent areas

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9
Q

Orthofluvial

A

Remaining floodplain

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10
Q

Stream classification: Perennial runoff

A
  • Strong to intermediate effect on biota
  • Rare drying
  • Infrequent flooding
  • Low discharge predictability
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11
Q

Gaining streams

A

Streams with increased discharge from groundwater as they move downstream

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12
Q

A straight channel has a sinuosity of?

A

1

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13
Q

Sinuosity

A

Distance the water travels between 2 points divided by the direct distance between the 2 points

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14
Q

Types of water use by humans

A
  1. Domestic (high-quality water)
  2. Power (low-quality water)
  3. Consumptive (ex. agriculture evaporation)
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15
Q

Stream classification: Winter rain

A
  • Seasonally strong effect on biota
  • Rare drying
  • Infrequent & predictable floods
  • High discharge predictability
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16
Q

Stream classification: Intermittent runoff

A
  • Strong effect on biota
  • Rare drying frequency
  • Frequent & unpredictable floods
  • Low discharge predictability
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17
Q

T/F: If all people in the world used water at the per capita rates used in the US, all water available would be used

A

True

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18
Q

Water velocity

A

Speed of water at any point in a channel

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19
Q

Pools

A

Deep areas with relatively low water velocity

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20
Q

Variable source area hydrology

A

Expansion and contraction of saturated areas in watershed during wet and dry periods

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21
Q

Parafluvial

A

Where river regularly floods

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22
Q

Discharge equation

A

Discharge (Q) = velocity (V) x channel surface area (A)

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23
Q

Reach

A

A section of river with multiple riffles/pools/runs

24
Q

Which location has the lowest residence time?

A

Atmosphere - 8.9 days

25
Q

Stream classification: Snow & rain

A
  • Strong to intermediate effect on biota
  • Rare drying
  • Frequency & predictable floods
  • Low discharge predictability
26
Q

Watershed

A

Land area drained by all tributary streams above a chosen point in the main channel

27
Q

Fluvial zone

A

Flowing channel

28
Q

Globally, humans currently withdraw ____% of runoff that is accessible

A

54%

29
Q

Discharge

A

Volume of water passing through a channel per unit of time

30
Q

Stream classification: Mesic groundwater

A
  • Weak effect on biota
  • Rare drying
  • Infrequent floods
  • High discharge predictability
31
Q

Which water source provides the most fresh water for humans?

A

Groundwater - 96.56%

Although it’s difficult to reach

32
Q

What is the global hydrologic cycle?

A

The estimated amount of water movement between compartments throughout the globe

33
Q

Losing streams

A

Streams with decreasing groundwater flow due to their location at a level above groundwater

34
Q

Stream classification: Intermittent flashy

A
  • Strong effect on biota
  • Low drying frequency
  • Frequent flood/discharge frequency
35
Q

Rosgen system first level

A

Characterizes stream by channel and valley shape, slope and pattern

36
Q

Stream classification: Harsh intermittent stream

A
  • Strong effect on biota
  • Low drying frequency
  • Rare to frequent flood/discharge frequency
37
Q

Hydrograph

A

Plot of discharge against time

38
Q

Perennial

A

Flowing all of the time, or most of the time when not in a drought event

39
Q

What is a hydrologic flux?

A

Movement of water thru the global hydrologic cycle

40
Q

Ephemeral

A

Flowing rarely and not receiving input from groundwater

41
Q

Pothole / Kettle

A

Formed when ice left from retreating glacier is buried in till and melts

42
Q

Moraine

A

Glacial activity deposits a dam of rock and debris

43
Q

Graben

A

Block slips down btwn two others

44
Q

Horst

A

Diagonal slippage

45
Q

Earthslide

A

Movement of earth dams a stream or river

46
Q

Volcanic-caldera

A

Volcanic explosion causes hole that fills with water

47
Q

Dissolution

A

Limestone dissolves and lake forms

48
Q

Oxbow

A

River bend pinches off, leaves lake behind

49
Q

Lentic

A

Non-flowing water

50
Q

Glacial lake: Cirque

A

Deep glacial scours create valleys where lake can form

51
Q

Glacial lake: Fjord

A

Long, glacial lakes in steep valleys

52
Q

Pelagic zone

A

Open water of lake, water column above sediments where there is not enough light for photosynthesis

53
Q

Profundal zone

A

Benthic habitat below pelagic zone

54
Q

Littoral zone

A

Shallow zone of lake where enough light enters to allow growth of photosynthetic organisms

55
Q

Fetch

A

Length of lake on which the wind acts

56
Q

Seiche

A

Rocking of entire lake’s surface