Physical Environments - Hydrosphere

Question 1

Evapotranspiration

Answer 1

The process by which moisture is returned to the atmosphere by direct means through evaporation combined with transpiration from vegetation.

Question 2

Floodplains

Answer 2

Areas formed when rivers overflow their banks and flood surrounding flat land, leaving deposits of silt, until eventually a flat floodplain is built up.

Question 3

Hydrosphere

Answer 3

The name given to all of the water surfaces on the Earth.

Question 4

Infiltration

Answer 4

The process by which water seeps into the soil and subsoil.

Question 5

Lag time

Answer 5

A time delay between the arrival of a signal in a meteorological measuring instrument and the response of that instrument.

Question 6

Precipitation

Answer 6

All forms of moisture in the atmosphere, including rain, hail, sleet and snow.

Question 7

Quick flow

Answer 7

The surface movement of water from precipitation, which is not interrupted by vegetation and that runs as a shallow, unchannelled sheet across the soil.