the hydrological cycle within a drainage basin Flashcards
What type of system is the hydrological cycle within a drainage basin and why?
It is an open system because it consists of inputs, storage, transfers and outputs.
What is the main input in to the sytem?
precipitation, the intensity the frequency and the duration all have an effect on the amount of water in the system
Where is water stored in a drainage basin? (Refer to surface, underground, soils/rocks and foliage)
Water is stored on the surface in a drainage basin in lakes and channels
And underground in the ground water store, water reaches this store via infliltration and percolation.
During this process, some water will be stored in soil and rocks, the amount of water stored will vary depending on the porosity of the soil and the permeability of the rock
Water can also be temporarily stored by interception. This refers to the storage of water on plant stems and leaves. Water often evapourates from these surfaces, so dense foliage may result in little water reaching the ground
What are the transfers in a drainage basin?
Overland flow transfers water through the basin either as sheetwash across the surface, or in tiny channels called rills
Beneathe the surface, water is transferred via throughflow, which is the movement of water through the lower soils towards rivers.
Water that has been intercepted by foliage may also be transferred, either directly as throughfall or by running down branches and stems via stemflow
What are the outputs of a drainage basin?
Rivers flowing out of the basin into the sea are the main output of a drainage basin.
Some water will also be lost via evapotranspiration, this process refers to direct evapouration and also the moisture lost from leaves of plants
