The Water Cycle And Water Insecurity Flashcards
Channel Flow
The water flowing in a rivulet, stream of river contained within the banks.
Drainage Basin
The area of land drained by a river and its tributaries. Drainage basins are separated by a ridge of high land called a watershed.
Evapotranspiration
Combined loss of water to the atmosphere via the processes of evaporation and transpiration.
Infiltration
The movement of water vertically downwards through the spaces (pores) in the soil.
Interception
The process by which raindrops are prevented from falling directly onto the ground by leaves, branches, twigs or vegetation.
Percolation
A process similar to infiltration but travelling through rock surfaces towards the water table.
Precipitation
Any form of water falling from the sky.
Runoff
Water (from rain,snowmelt or other sources) that flows over the land surface; can be due to soil saturation.
Saturated Overland Flow
Occurs when the soil becomes saturated and any additional precipitation causes runoff.
Aquifer
A permeable or porous rock which stores water
Closed system
A sequence of linked processes with a transfer of energy but not matter between parts of the system
A closed system is one where inputs and outputs are balanced.
Cryosphere
Describes the set of all locations on Earth where water is found in solid form, including areas of snow, sea ice, glaciers, permafrost, ice sheets and icebergs.
Deficit
Where a resource is less than the necessary amount.
Economic water scarcity
Occurs when water resources are available but there is an insufficient capital to access the water to meet demand
Flux
The flow of flowing of a liquid
Fossil water
Water that has been contained and undisturbed for millennia. There is no significant recharge therefore it is a non-renewable resource.
Global water budget
The amount of water transferred and stored in the Earth’s hydrological cycle each year l.
Hard engineering
Often high cost schemes that use artificial structures such as dams or the Thames Barrier.
Hydrological drought
Occurs when there is insufficient soil moisture to meet the needs of vegetation at a particular time.
Monsoon
A seasonable prevailing wind which causes wet and dry seasons in many sub-tropical areas.
Open System
A sequence of linked processes with inputs and outputs, including transfers of energy and matter to and from other systems.
Orographic
Relating to mountains, orographic uplift is when the uplift of air mass, because of an orographic obstruction, causes the cooling of the air mass. If enough cooling takes place, condensation can occur and form into orographic precipitation.
Permafrost
Zone of permanently frozen water found in high latitude soils and sediments.
