Water EQ1

Question 1

What percentage of the earths water in different stores?

Answer 1

96. 9% in oceans
97. 9% in icecaps
98. 1% Groundwater
99. 01% In soil moisture

Question 2

Define water shed

Answer 2

The high point of land (usually mountains or hills) that divide two drainage basins

Question 3

Define drainage basin

Answer 3

The area of land drained by a river

Question 4

Define flood plain

Answer 4

The area of land in the middle and lower course that floods during periods of high discharge

Question 5

Define headwaters

Answer 5

A small tributary stream close toor forming the source

Question 6

Define tributaries

Answer 6

Smaller river that joins the main channel

Question 7

Define confluence

Answer 7

The point which two rivers meet

Question 8

Define ground water table

Answer 8

The upper level of the permanently saturated soil or rocks

Question 9

Define source

Answer 9

The start of the river (furtherest point of the river away from the mouth)

Question 10

Define interception

Answer 10

When precipitation lands on structures or vegetation. This tore is temporary as the water quickly evaporates.

Question 11

Define vegetation storage

Answer 11

Water that has been taken up by plants

Question 12

Define surface storage

Answer 12

Water stored in puddles and lakes

Question 13

Define channel storage

Answer 13

Water held in a river or stream channel

Question 14

Define through fall

Answer 14

Water dripping from one leaf to another

Question 15

Define stem flow

Answer 15

Water running down a plant stem or a tree trunk

Question 16

Define throughflow

Answer 16

Water moving slowly downhill through the soil. Through flow is faster through “Pipes” like cracks in soil.

Question 17

Define infiltration

Answer 17

Water soaking into the soil. Infiltration by soil type, soil structure and how much water is already in the soil.

Question 18

Define percolation

Answer 18

Water seeping down through soil into the water table

Question 19

Ground water flow

Answer 19

Water flowing slowly below the water table through permeable rock. Water flows slowly through most rocks, but rocks that are highly permeable with lots of joints can have faster ground water flow.

Question 20

Define baseflow

Answer 20

Groundwater flow that feeds into rivers through banks and river beds

Question 21

Define interflow

Answer 21

Water flowing downhill through permeable rock above the water table

Question 22

Define transpiration

Answer 22

Evaporation from plant leaves- plants and trees take up water through their roots and transport it to their leaves where it evaporates into the atmosphere.

Question 23

How does temperature cause variation within the drainage Basin

Answer 23

The rate of evaporation increases with temperature. The main energy source is solar radiation, so evaporation and temperature will increase with sunshine hours.

Question 24

How does wind cause variations in the hydrological cycle?

Answer 24

Wind will increase the rate of evaporation by reducing the relative humidity and preventing saturation of the air.

Question 25

How does vegetation cover cause variations in the hydrological cycle

Answer 25

Transpiration will increase vegetation cover which will depend on the season. Vegetation with low albedo will absorb more solar radiation, increasing evaporation.

Question 26

How does soil moisture content cause variation in the drainage basin

Answer 26

Soil moisture content will determine the amount of water available for transpiration. It is dependent on soil and rock permeability.

Question 27

Water are the inputs into a drainage basin

Answer 27

Precipitation
Water diversion
Groundwater flow
Surface water flow

Question 28

What are the outputs of a drainage basin

Answer 28

Evapotranspiration 
Water diversion out of a river 
Ground water flow out 
Surface run off out 
Industrial or residential use