vocab Flashcards
raised river bank that results when a river deposits its load at the rivers edge
natural levee
body of rock through which large amounts of water can flow and much water is stored
aquifer
part of the valley floor that may be covered w water during a flood
floodplain
a small stream of water whose source is groundwater that has reached the surface
spring
land from which water runs off into streams
drainage basin
how freely water passes through open spaces in rock/sediment
permeability
layer of groundwater where all pores are full
zone of saturation
cone shaped calcite deposit built up from the floor of a calvern
stalagmite
underground water that fills almost all the pores in rock and sediment
groundwater
feeder streams that flow into a main river
tributary
upper surface of the zone of saturation
water table
curves in a river
meander
refers to the percentage of open spaces in rock or sediment
porosity
large, coarser sand, gravel and pebbles that move along the bottom
bed load
cone shaped calcite deposit suspended from the ceiling of a cavern
stalactite
the path that a stream follows
channel
the unending circulation of earth’s water supply
water cycle
remove as much suspended solids as possible before the remaining water, called effluent, is discharged back to the environment
wastewater treatment
land from which water runs off into streams
watershed
ridges or elevated regions of high ground that separate watersheds
divide
beginning of a stream
headwaters
streams radiate outwards from a central high point
radial
shape determined by underlying rocks
rectangular
streams that are parallel with tributaries forming right angles
trellis
water flow resembles branches on a tree and is most common
dendritic
process of lengthening and branching of a stream
headward erosion
the capture of a stream in one watershed by a stream with a higher rate of erosion in another watershed
stream piracy
material carried by a stream
stream load
mineral matter transported in liquid solution
dissolved load
particles of fine grains and silt suspended in the water
suspended load
distance the water travels in a period of time
velocity
volume of water moved by a stream within a given time
discharge
steepness of a streams slope
gradient
underwater deposit of sediment at the mouth of a stream into a lake or ocean
delta
fan shaped deposit at the base of a slope on land
alluvial fan
straight, erodes rapidly, v-shaped, few tributaries, has waterfalls and rapids
young river
meandering, slow erosion, U-shaped, lots of tributaries, holds lots of water
mature river
part of the valley floor that may be covered with natural water during a flood
floodplain
gradient and velocity decreases, no more erosion, more meandering
old river
eastern mounds built on the banks of a river
-can be made of concrete, sandbags etc
artificial levee
store flood water and let it out slowly
flood control dams
refers to the percentage of open spaces in rock or sediment
porosity
tock or sediment that water canot flow through
impermeable
zone that lies between water table and surface (remains dry except rainfall)
zone of aeration
a hole that is dug below the water table and fills with groundwater
well
cone shaped depression in water table around a well
cone of depression
well in which water flows freely w no pumping necessary
artesian well
hot groundwater that rises to surface before cooling
hot spring
hot springs that erupt periodically
geyser
water that contains large amounts of dissolved minerals
hard water
large cave with connecting chambers
caverns
depression formed when the roof of a cavern collapses
sinkhole
topography characterized by sinkholes, ponds, lost river,s and underground drainage (dissolve easily)
karst topography
removing salt from ocean water
desalination
movement of saltwater into freshwater aquifers caused by over pumping of wells in coastal areas
saltwater intrusion
sources of pollution- water dumps, underground storage tanks, agriculture and lawn fertilizers, pesticides, leaking sewage
conserving groundwater
