rivers Flashcards
the hydrological cycle in a drainage basin:
precipitation
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interception ——> transpiration
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stem flow
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surface storage
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infiltration
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soil moisture ——> through flow
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percolation
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groundwater store
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ground water flow
surface runoff ——> river carrying water to a lake or sea
|
evaporation
what does it mean when:
on a global scale, the hydrological cycle is a closed system
there are no inputs or outputs - nothing can enter the system or leave the system
what does it mean when:
on a local scales, within a drainage basin, the hydrological cycle is an open system
there are inputs (e.g. precipitation)
water table meaning
current upper level of saturate rock/soil where no more water can be absorbed
groundwater flow meaning
water flowing through the rock layer parallel to the surface
through flow meaning
water flowing through the soil layer parallel to the surface
surface runoff meaning
water flowing on top of the ground
evaporation meaning
water lost from ground/vegetation surface
transpiration meaning
water lost through pores in vegetation
ground water meaning
water stored in rock
percolation meaning
water seeping deeper through rock
soil moisture meaning
water help in the soil layer parallel
infiltration meaning
water sinking into the soil/rock form the ground surface
surface storage meaning
water held on the ground surface .e.g. puddles
interception meaning
water being prevented form reaching the surface/ground by vegetation or trees
precipitation meaning
any source of moisture reaching the ground .e.g rain, snow, frost
how might human activity impact the hydrological cycle in drainage basin
- deforestation would impact interception
-> less trees means water isn’t intercepted - deforestation would impact surface runoff
-> increases speed as less precipitation is intercepted
what is the source
the start of the river
what is the drainage basin
the area of land drained by a river and its tributaries
what is a confluence
where a tributary joins a larger river
what is the mouth
the end of a river (usually where the river meets the sea)
what is the water shed
the edge of the river basin
what is a tributary
a small stream that joins a larger river
how many ‘courses’ are there in a river
3 - upper, middle, lower