Water Cycle Flashcards
Transpiration
Process where water is lost from a plant through stomata and into the atmosphere.
Output
Evaporation
Process where water is lost from land and rivers into the atmosphere
Output
River runoff
When water from whole river system flows out to sea
Output
Throughflow
Water flows sideways through the soil to the river
Transfer
Infiltration
Water absorbs into the soil
Transfer
Percolation
Constant movement of water down through soil and into rock below
Transfer
Surface run off
Water flows on ground to the river
Transfer
Groundwater flow
Occurs in a zone of saturated rock and is a lateral movement of water flowing into the river underground
Transfer
Channel flow
Water from adjacent land enters the river
Transfer
Vegetation storage
Water stored in vegetation
Store
Interception
Rain falls on trees and vegetation and is stored until evaporated
Store
Surface storage
Rain lies in puddles until infiltrates into the ground
Store
Soil water storage
When water which has infiltrated remains in storage within the soil
Store
Channel storage
When water enters the river and is stores there before entering the sea
Store
Precipitation
Moisture falling from the atmosphere as rain, snow, sleet or hail
Lithosphere
Rock
Cryosphere
Ice (largest store within the water cycle)
Hydrosphere
Water
Biosphere
Living things
Atmosphere
Air
Flood hydrograph
A flood hydrograph is a graphical representation of how a rivers discharge changes overtime at a given point in it’s course
Peak Rainfall
Maximum rainfall during storm time period
Peak discharge
Maximum discharge during storm time period
Lag time
Difference between peak rainfall and peak discharge
