Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Physical Geography > R - Hydrological Cycle > Flashcards

R - Hydrological Cycle Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
U.S. Geography flashcards World Geography flashcards
1
Q

What is the hydrological cycle?

A

The process whereby water in it various forms is continually cycled between the land, sea and atmosphere

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What type of system is the global hydrological cycle? Why?

A

A closed system - there are no inputs or outputs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What type of system is a drainage basin system?

A

An open system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are the four main processes in the hydrological cycle?

A

Interception, evapotranspiration, infiltration and precipitation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are the inputs of a drainage basin?

A

Precipitation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is precipitation?

A

All forms of moisture that reaches the Earth’s surface, including rain, snow and dew

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the storage things in a drainage basin?

A

Interception, vegetation storage, surface storage, groundwater storage and channel storage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is interception?

A

The prevention of precipitation from reaching the Earth’s surface by trees and vegetation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is vegetation storage?

A

Water being taken up by plants - it’s all the water contained in plants at any one time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is surface storage?

A

The total volume of water held on the Earth’s surface in lakes ponds and puddles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is groundwater storage?

A

The storage of water underground in permeable rock strata

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is channel storage?

A

Water held in a river or stream channel

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are the flows and processes in a drainage basin?

A 
Surface runoff
Throughfall
Stemflow
Throughflow
Infiltration
Percolation
Groundwater flow
Baseflow
Interflow
Channel flow
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is surface runoff?

A

Water flowing over the land surface as channel flow and overland flow. (aka surface flow and overland flow)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is throughfall?

A

Water dripping from one leaf (or plant) to another

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is Stemflow?

A

Flow down plant trunks and stems following interception

17
Q

What is throughflow?

A

The movement of water downslope within the soil layer

18
Q

What if Inifltration?

A

The downward movement of water into soil surface

19
Q

What is percolation?

A

The gravity flow of water within soil

20
Q

What is goundwater flow?

A

The deeper movement of water through the underlying rock strata

21
Q

What is baseflow?

A

Water that reaches the channel largely through slow throughflow and from permeable rock below the water table

22
Q

What is interflow?

A

Water flowing downhill through permeable rock about the water table

23
Q

What is channel flow?

A

The movement of water within the river channel

24
Q

What are the outputs of a drainage basin?

A

Evaporation
Transpiration
Evapotranspiration
River discharge/River flow

25
Q

What is evaporation?

A

The transformation of water droplets into water vapour by heating

26
Q

What is transpiration?

A

Evaporation from plant leaves

27
Q

What is evapotranspiration?

A

The loss of water from a drainage basin into the atmosphere from the leaves of plants

28
Q

What is the water balance?

A

The balance between the inputs and outputs

29
Q

What happens to the water balance in wet seasons? What are the results?

A

Precipitation exceeds evapotranspiration - this creates a water surplus
The ground stores fill with water so there more surface runoff and higher discharge - so river levels rise

30
Q

What is a surplus?

A

More than is needed

31
Q

What happens to the water balance in drier seasons?

A

Precipitation is lower than evapotranspiration
Ground stores are depleted as some water is used (eg by plants & humans) and some flows into the river channel - but isn’t replaced by precipitation

32
Q

What happens at the end of a dry season?

A

There is a deficit of water in the ground - the ground stores are recharged in the next wet season

33
Q

What is a deficit?

A

A shortage

Physical Geography (27 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions