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Physical Geography > Operation of the Drainage Basin as an Open System > Flashcards

Operation of the Drainage Basin as an Open System Flashcards

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1
Q

Catchment

A

The area of land drained by a river and it’s tributaries

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2
Q

Watershed

A

The highland which divides and separates waters to flowing rivers

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3
Q

Condensation

A

The change from a gas to a liquid, such as when water vapour changes into water droplets

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4
Q

Dew point

A

The temperature at which dew forms; it is a measure of atmospheric moisture

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5
Q

Convectional Rainfall

A

Often associated with intense thunderstorms, which occur widely in areas with ground heating such as the Tropics and continental interiors

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6
Q

Cyclonic Rainfall

A

A period of sustained, moderately intensive rain; it is associated with the passage of depressions

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7
Q

Orographic Rainfall

A

Concentrated on the windward slopes and summits of mountains

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8
Q

Interception loss

A

This is water retained by plant surfaces and later evaporated or absorbed by the vegetation and transpired

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9
Q

Throughfall

A

This is when the rainfall persists or is relatively intense, and the water drops from the leaves, twigs, needles etc

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10
Q

Stem Flow

A

This is when the water trickles along twigs and branches and then down the trunk

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11
Q

Infiltration

A

The movement of water from the ground surface into soil

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12
Q

Infiltration Capacity

A

The maximum rate at which rain can be absorbed by soil

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13
Q

Surface run-off

A

The movement of water that is unconfined by a channel across the surface of the ground. Also known as overland flow

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14
Q

Percolation

A

The transfer of water from the surface or from the soil into the bedrock beneath

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15
Q

Saturated Overland Flow

A

The upward movement of the water table into the evaporation zone

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16
Q

Evapotranspiration

A

The combined effects of evaporation and transpiration

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17
Q

Channel flow

A

The flow of water in streams or rivers

18
Q

Channel Storage

A

The storage of water in streams or rivers

19
Q

Potential Evapotranspiration

A

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

20
Q

Deforestation

A

The cutting down and removal of all or most of the trees in a forested area

21
Q

Afforestation

A

The planting of trees in an area that has not been forested in recent times

22
Q

Drainage basin

A

The area of land drained by a river and its tributaries

23
Q

Drainage Basin

A

The area of land drained by a river and it’s tributaries

24
Q

Inputs of drainage basin

A

Precipitation

25
Q

Impacts of inputs on drainage basin depend on:

A 
The amount of precipitation
The type of precipitation
Seasonality
Intensity of precipitation
Variability
26
Q

Secular variability

A

Long term variability, result of climate change trends

27
Q

Periodic variability

A

Happens in annual, seasonal, monthly, diurnal context

28
Q

Stochastic Variability

A

Results from random factors, such as the localisation of a thunderstorm within a basin

29
Q

Interception

A

Process by which water is stored in the vegetation, 3 main components - interception loss, through fall and stem flow.

30
Q

Factors affecting interception loss

A
  • point of storm, more interception loss at start and following dry period
  • type of tree: coniferous tree greater, as dense needles.
  • seasonality in deciduous forests: summer/winter
  • wind speeds: decrease, intercepted water dislodged, and increases evaporation
  • intensity & duration of rainfall - amount of rainfall increases, less water intercepted as tree canopies become saturated
  • agricultural crops- more interception with more dense crop
31
Q

Factors affecting infiltration

A
  • decreases with time during a period of rainfall as a constant low level is reached
  • Antecedent soil moisture, wet soils, less infiltration as already saturated
  • Soil texture, level of porosity
  • Type, amount and seasonal changes in vegetation. More vegetation = more infiltration
  • Nature of soil surface, compact promotes overland flow
  • Slope angle, steep = more runoff, flat = infiltration
32
Q

Throughflow

A

The lateral transfer of water down slope through soil via natural pipes and percolines.

33
Q

Percolines

A

Lines of concentrated water flow between soil horizons to the river channel

34
Q

Fluxes in drainage basin

A

Interception, Infiltration

35
Q

Flows and transfers in drainage basin

A
  • Overland flow/surface runoff
  • Throughflow
  • Percolation
  • Saturated overland flow
  • Channel flow
36
Q

Outputs of drainage basin

A

Evaporation, transpiration

37
Q

Factors affecting Evaporation rate

A
  • Climatic factors; temperature, hours of sunshine, humidity and windspeed. Temperature most important.
  • size of water body
  • depth of water
  • water quality
  • type of vegetation cover
  • colour of water surface
38
Q

Factors affecting transpiration rate

A
  • Time of year
  • type and amount of vegetation cover
  • degree and availability of moisture in the atmosphere
  • length of growing season
39
Q

Physical factors affecting the drainage basin system

A
  • Climate
  • Soils
  • Geology
  • Relief
  • Vegetation
40
Q

Human factors affecting the drainage basin

A
  • River management: Building dams/reservoirs, reduces flows. Abstracting water for domestic and industrial use, reduces flow. Abstracting groundwater for irrigation, reduces the water table.
  • Deforestation: reduces evapotranspiration, increases infiltration and surface runoff
  • Changing land use - AGRICULTURE: soils compacted by livestock, increased surface runoff. soils aerated by ploughing, increased infiltration as soils loosened
  • Changing land use - URBANISATION: changing to urban land surfaces, increased surface runoff and less infiltration and percolation. Drains move rainfall to rivers and streams faster, increased chance of flooding.
41
Q

Components of drainage basin mostly affected by humans

A
  • evaporation & evapotranspiration
  • interception
  • infiltration
  • groundwater
  • surface runoff

Physical Geography (16 decks)

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