The Hydrological Cycle and flooding

Question 1

Define precipitation

Answer 1

Any water falling from the sky

Question 2

Define evaporation

Answer 2

Water is heated and turns from a liquid to a gas

Question 3

Define condensation

Answer 3

Water cools and turns from a liquid to a gas

Question 4

Define filtration

Answer 4

Water moving into the soil

Question 5

Define percolation

Answer 5

Water moving into permeable rocks

Question 6

Define surface runoff

Answer 6

Flow of water over the ground surface

Question 7

Define ground water flow

Answer 7

The flow of water through the rocks

Question 8

Define thoroughflow

Answer 8

Flow of water through the soil

Question 9

Define transpiration

Answer 9

Water loss from plants through pores in leaves as a gas

Question 10

Define stem flow

Answer 10

Water flowing down plants to the ground

Question 11

Define interception

Answer 11

Trees catch rainfall and stop it reaching the ground

Question 12

What are the main routes to sea water will take once reaching the ground?

Answer 12

Surface runoff, through flow and ground water flow

Question 13

What increases the chance of a flood?

Answer 13

Any factor that encourages surface runoff and reduces infiltration or interception

Question 14

Name some factors that will cause flooding

Answer 14

Saturated ground, icy ground, impermeable ground, a mountain range and an urban area

Question 15

Name factors that are less likely to cause flooding

Answer 15

Rural areas, hot climates, forests, flat field and a drought

Question 16

In a flood hydrograph, what is rainfall measured in?

Answer 16

mm

Question 17

In a flood hydrograph, what is discharge measured in?

Answer 17

m cubed / s

Question 18

What is the base flow In a flood hydrograph?

Answer 18

water that came through the rocks

Question 19

In a flood hydrograph, what is overland flow?

Answer 19

Water that came as surface runoff

Question 20

In a flood hydrograph, what is through flow?

Answer 20

Water that came through the soil

Question 21

What does a flood hydrograph show?

Answer 21

How much water there is in a river and helps look at flood risks

Question 22

In a flood hydrograph, what is the rising limb?

Answer 22

The rising flood water in a river

Question 23

In a flood hydrograph, what is the reccession limb?

Answer 23

Falling flood water in the river

Question 24

In a flood hydrograph, what is peak flow?

Answer 24

Maximum discharge in the river and is the time it’ll most likely flood

Question 25

In a flood hydrograph, what is basin lag time?

Answer 25

Time difference between the peak of the rain storm and the peak flow of the river