The water cycle Flashcards
What is an open system in Geography?
any system which has external inputs and external outputs of both energy AND matter
What is a closed system in Geography?
a system that transfers energy, but not matter
What are the transfers in the water cycle?
Evaporation, Infiltration , through flow , ground water flow , percolation, precipitation , surface run-off, condensation
What are the stores in the water cycle?
Glaciers, lakes , ocean , rivers , vegetation, water table , aquifer
What are water cycle inputs?
Precipitation, percolation, infiltration, overland flow ,through-flow
What are water cycle outputs?
Evaporation, transpiration
What is evapotranspiration?
evaporation from the soil and other surfaces and by transpiration from plants.
What is percolation?
The movement and filtering of fluids through porous materials
Definition of the water budget?
Balance of inputs into the water system and outputs
What is the purpose of the hydrograph?
To measure the river’s discharge after a storm or precipitation event in a drainage basin
Outputs of drainage basin?
Evaporation, Transpiration, Channel flow
What physical factors affect the drainage basin?
Rock type, soil type, climate, relief of the land, vegetation cover, climate
What type of system is the water cycle?
A closed system as no water enters or leaves the system
What is through flow?
the lateral movement of water through the upper soil
What is lag time?
The delay between the peak rainfall and peak discharge, influenced by factors like soil type, vegetation, and land use.
Describe the drainage basin as an open system?
A drainage basin is an open system where water and energy enter (through precipitation and solar energy) and exit (via rivers, evaporation, and transpiration), with various processes like infiltration, surface runoff, and groundwater flow in between
What is convectional rainfall?
occurs when the heated air from the earth’s surface rises upwards along with the water vapour and gets condensed when it reaches a higher altitude
Outline the different flows operating on a hill
Through-flow , ground-water flow, infiltration, surface runoff
What affects transpiration rates?
moisture, temperature, wind
What is channel flow?
the movement of water within the river channel
What is ground water flow?
Water flowing slowly through rocks towards the sea
