Water Cycle and Water Insecurity EQ1

Question 1

The planting of trees in an area that has not been forested in recent times

Answer 1

Afforestation

Question 2

A measure of the proportion of the incoming solar radiation that is reflected by the surface back into the atmosphere and space

Answer 2

Albedo

Question 3

The normal, day-to-day discharge of the river fed by groundwater flow

Answer 3

Base flow

Question 4

Water is stored in rivers, lakes and groundwater in liquid form

Answer 4

Blue water

Question 5

The area of land drained by a river and its tributaries

Answer 5

Catchment

Question 6

The flow of water in streams or rivers

Answer 6

Channel flow

Question 7

The storage of water in streams or rivers

Answer 7

Channel storage

Question 8

The change from a gas to a liquid

Answer 8

Condensation

Question 9

Often associated with intense thunderstorms, which occur widely in areas with ground heating such as the Tropics and continental interiors.

Answer 9

Convectional rainfall

Question 10

Areas of the Earth where water is frozen into snow or ice

Answer 10

Cryosphere

Question 11

A period of sustained, moderately intensive rain; it is associated with the passage of depressions

Answer 11

Cyclonic rainfall

Question 12

The cutting down and removal of all or most of the trees in a forested area

Answer 12

Deforestation

Question 13

The temperature at which dew forms; it is a measure of atmospheric moisture

Answer 13

Dew point

Question 14

The conversion of water to vapour, as a result of the sun’s heating and air movement The change in state of water from a liquid to a gas

Answer 14

Evaporation

Question 15

The combined effect of evaporation and transpiration

Answer 15

Evapotranspiration

Question 16

The part of a storm hydrograph in which the discharge starts to decrease

Answer 16

Falling (recessional) limb

Question 17

The rate of flow between the stores

Answer 17

Fluxes

Question 18

Ancient, deep groundwater from former pluvial (wetter) periods

Answer 18

Fossil Water

Question 19

Water stored in the soil and vegetation

Answer 19

Green water

Question 20

The slow transfer of percolated water underground through pervious or porous rocks

Answer 20

Groundwater flow

Question 21

The movement of water from the ground surface into the soil

Answer 21

Infiltration

Question 22

The maximum rate at which rain can be absorbed by a soil

Answer 22

Infiltration capacity

Question 23

Where water is captured by vegetation, or buildings and hard surfaces, before reaching the soil

Answer 23

Interception

Question 24

Water retained by plant surfaces and later evaporated or absorbed by the vegetation and transpired

Answer 24

Interception loss

Question 25

The time between peak rainfall and peak discharge

Answer 25

Lag time

Question 26

Concentrated on the windward slopes and summits of mountains

Answer 26

Orographic rainfall

Question 27

The time when the river reaches its highest flow

Answer 27

Peak discharge

Question 28

The transfer of water from the soil into the bedrock beneath

Answer 28

Percolation

Question 29

Lines of concentrated water flow between soil horizons to the river channel

Answer 29

Percolines

Question 30

The water loss that would occur if there was an unlimited supply of water in the soil for use by vegetation

Answer 30

Potential Evapotranspiration

Question 31

The movement of water in any form from the atmosphere to the ground

Answer 31

Precipitation

Question 32

The physical mechanisms that drive the fluxes of water between the stores

Answer 32

Processes

Question 33

A dry area on the leeward side of a mountainous area (away from the wind). The mountains block the passage of rain-producing weather systems and cast a “shadow” of dryness behind them.

Answer 33

Rain shadow

Question 34

Planting trees in places with recent tree cover, replacing lost primary forests

Answer 34

Reforestation

Question 35

The average time a water molecule will spend in a reservoir or store

Answer 35

Residence time

Question 36

The part of a storm hydrograph in which the discharge starts to rise

Answer 36

Rising limb

Question 37

The annual variation in discharge or flow of a river at a particular point or gauging station, usually measured in cumecs

Answer 37

River regime

Question 38

The upward movement of the water table into the evaporation zone

Answer 38

Saturated overland flow

Question 39

Water held within the soil

Answer 39

Soil moisture storage

Question 40

This is when water trickles along twigs and branches and then down the trunk

Answer 40

Stem flow

Question 41

Stocks where water is held, such as the oceans, lakes etc.

Answer 41

Stores

Question 42

The variation of discharge within a short period of time, usually in response to a period of rainfall

Answer 42

Storm hydrograph

Question 43

The movement of water that is unconfined by a channel across the surface of the ground. Also known as overland flow

Answer 43

Surface run-off

Question 44

Any surface water in lakes, ponds, puddles

Answer 44

Surface storage

Question 45

These approaches study the hydrological phenomena by looking at the balance of inputs and outputs, and how water is moved by stores and flows

Answer 45

Systems approach

Question 46

When the rainfall persists or is relatively intense and the water drops from the leaves, twigs, needles etc.

Answer 46

Throughfall

Question 47

The lateral transfer of water down slope through the soil via natural pipes and percolines

Answer 47

Throughflow

Question 48

The diffusion of water from vegetation into the atmosphere, involving a change from a gas to a liquid

Answer 48

Transpiration

Question 49

Any moisture taken up by vegetation and held within plants

Answer 49

Vegetation storage

Question 50

The balance between precipitation, evaporation and run-off (the difference between inputs and outputs)

Answer 50

Water budget

Question 51

The high land which divides and separates waters flowing to different rivers

Answer 51

Watershed