The hydrosphere Flashcards
what is an aquifer?
an underground rock structure holding water
what is infiltration?
the flow of surface water into the ground
what is residence time?
the average time that a water molecule stays in a reservoir in the hydrological cycle
what is transpiration?
the evaporation of water from the stomata of leaves
what is runoff?
the flow of water over the ground surface
what is percolation?
the flow of water through the spaces in soil or rocks
what is interception?
precipitation that doesn’t reach the ground because it lands on vegetation
what is a hydrogen bond?
the weak electrostatic link between water molecules
what is reverse osmosis?
A desalinization process that involves forcing salt-water through a membrane permeable to allow water, but not salt through it
what is Flocculation?
Small particles in water are made to coagulate/clump together and form a precipitate.
what is Aeration?
Air is forced through the water to release unwanted gases, which reduces odour and improves taste
Examples of permeable rocks?
sandstone, limestone
Examples of impermeable rocks?
clay, granite
Effects of reservoirs?
changes microclimate
what is subsidence?
A depression of the land surface as a result of groundwater being pumped due to collapse of pore spaces
