Theme A Water Cycle Flashcards
Water cycle
The water cycle is the continuous movement of water between the land, the see and the air.
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an area of land drained by a main river and its tributaries
Precipitation
A form of moisture falling to the ground eg, rain snow and hail
Interception by vegetation
The process in which precipitation is prevented from falling onto the ground by plants. It slows run-off and reduces the risk of flooding.
Surface run-off
The movement of water across the surface of the Earth
Infiltration
The movement of water form earths surface into the soil
Throughflow
Water which is moving through the soil
Percolation
The movement of water from the soil into the bedrock toward a river or sea
Groundwater flow
Water which is moving horizontally through the bedrock
Evapotranspiration
The process by which water is transferred to the atmosphere by evaporation from the surface eg, big lakes and transpiration from plants
Source
Starting point of river
Tributary
Smaller river that flows into main river
Confluence
The point where two rivers meet
River mouth
The end of a river where it meets the sea ocean or lake.
