Running Water and Groundwater Flashcards
The constant circulation of Earth’s water supply among the oceans, the atmosphere, the solid Earth, and the biosphere.
Water Cycle
Water that falls from the atmosphere to the Earth’s surface. (Rain, Snow, Sleet, Hail)
Precipitation
The process that changes liquid water to gaseous water (water vapor). Water moves from the Earth’s surface to the atmosphere due to heat energy
Evaporation
The process by which water vapor in the air is changed into liquid water
Condensation
Precipitation that does not soak into the soil but instead moves on the Earth’s surface toward streams.
Runoff
Precipitation that is the movement of surface water and soaks into rock or soil through cracks and pore spaces.
Infiltration
The release of water into the atmosphere from plants through the ground.
Transpiration
The ability of a stream to erode and transport materials and depend largely on its velocity.
Streamflow
Factor affecting velocity of streamflow:
is the slope or steepness of a stream channel.
Gradient
Factor affecting velocity of streamflow:
the course the water in a stream
follows. Shape, size and roughness of a stream.
Stream Channel
Factor affecting velocity of streamflow:
of a stream is the volume of water flowing past a certain point in a given unit of time.
Discharge
a stream that empties into another stream
Tributary
Factors that increase downstream
Velocity, Discharge, Channel Size
Factors that decrease downstream
Gradient, Slope, Channel Roughness
a stream in a broad, flat-bottomed valley that is near its base level often develops a course with many bends.
Meanders
lowest point to which a stream can
erode.
Base Level
dissolved sediment that enters a stream from groundwater and dissolving rock.
Dissolved Load
Largest part of load that is a visible cloud of sediment in the water. Floats in the water
Suspended Load
Solid material too large to carry in
suspension. Sediment slides or rolls on stream floor.
Bedload
Stream is the maximum load it can carry.
Capacity
Occurs as streamflow drops below the critical settling velocity of a certain particle size. (Streamflow slows down)
Deposition of Sediment
An accumulation of sediment formed where a stream enters a lake or ocean.
Delta
Parallels a stream and helps to contain its waters, except during flood stage.
Natural Levee
Shows that the stream’s primary work has been downcutting (Eroded) toward base level with features that include rapids and waterfalls. (V-shape)
Narrow Valley
streams are near base level, downward erosion is less dominant and stream energy is directed from side to side
Wide Valley
A substance that can be dissolved in a solution by solvent
Solute
A substance in which a solute is dissolved.
Solvent
flat, low-lying portion of a stream valley subject to periodic flooding.
Floodplain
Land area that contributes water to a stream
Drainage Basin
Area where water fills all of the open spaces in sediment and rock
Zone of Saturation
The water that is within the zone of saturation
Groundwater
the upper level of the saturation zone of groundwater.
Water Table
The percentage of pore spaces and how much groundwater can be stored.
Porosity
Permeable rock layers or sediments that
transmit groundwater freely.
Aquifers
The ability to transmit water through connected pore spaces.
Permeability
Forms whenever the water table intersects the ground surface.
Spring
Water that is 6–9ºC warmer than the
air temperature. The is heated by cooling of igneous rock.
Hot Spring
Hot springs or fountain of
water that turns to steam and erupts with great force.
Geysers
Naturally formed underground chamber. Erosion forms most caverns at or below the water table in the zone of saturation.
Caverns
