People & Natural World Interactions Flashcards
Hydrosphere
the water part of the global system
Hydrological cycle
the continuous transfer and storage of water in the environment
River/stream
the transfer, the temporary store, of water as it drains a catchment area
Catchment area/drainage basin
a clearly defined area that a river and it’s network of streams collects it’s water from/drains
Tributary
a small river or stream that drains into a large one
Watershed
the boundary of a catchment area/drainage system
Water table
the surface of the saturated soil and bedrock underground
Ground water
the water held below the surface if the land
Discharge/runoff
water, transferred by a rivers channel
Precipitation
water (e.g. snow, hail, rain) transferred from the atmosphere to the surface
Evaporation
Loss of water when it changes from a liquid into a vapour, transferred from surface to atmosphere
Evaporation
Loss of water when it changes from a liquid to a vapour, transferred from surface to atmosphere
Confluence
The point at where two rivers meet
Desertification
When soil becomes dry, leading to soil erosion, and danger of becoming a desert
Transpiration
Loss of water by plants, through the stomata, to the atmosphere
Evapotranspiration
Combined loss of water by evaporation and transpiration
Condensation
When water changes from a gas to a liquid, often forming clouds
Surface run off/overland flow
Movement of water over the surface
Infiltration
Gradual penetration of water into the land surface
Through flow
Movement of water through the soil, usually laterally
Groundwater flow
The movement of water below the surface
Interception
Interruption of transfer, usually of rain by plants
Permeable
Allows water to pass through
Impermeable
Doesn’t allow water to pass through it
