River catchment terms Flashcards
Algae
a group of relatively simple plants that live in an aquatic or moist environment
aquifier
a layer of rock or gravel that holds water and allows it to move through
artesian
a term applied to a body of water in an aquifier
benthic
relating to those plants and animals that inhabit the floor of lakes, rivers and oceans
biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)
The amount of oxygen used when organic matter undergoes decomposition by micro-organisms
biota
all living organisms, including plants and animals
drainage texture
the channel type, density and pattern of a drainage network
enviornmental flow
a proportion of a river’s flow considered necessary to maintain its riverine ecosystem
eplilimnion
the surface layer or stratum of water in a water body
horizon (soil)
an identifiable layer in a soil profile, distinguished as a result of soil-forming processes
hypolimnion
the bottom layer in a water body
impermeable
a layer of rock through which groundwater cannot pass
infiltration
the movement of water through the soil surface
lentic
referring to still or slow-moving water bodies
lotic
referring to fast-moving water bodies
morphology
the study of shape (of the ground or landscape)
organic
living material and its by-products
permeable
rocks or soils that allow water to pass into them
porosity
the degree to which water may pass through matter
regulated
relating to streams and rivers that have their flow controlled by dams and weirs
riverine
relating to a rive
runoff
the proportion of rainfall that does not infiltrate the soil and flows into river channels
stratification
appearing to be layered
tectonic
relating to the processes of the earth’s crust
topography
the detailed surface of an area
transpiration
the loss of water vapour from plants via the leaves and to a lesser extent the stems
turbidity
the clouding of water by the suspended sediment
unregulated
relating to streams and rivers that have not had their flow controlled by dams or weirs.
