Water Insecurity

Question 1

Precipitation

Answer 1

Moisture in any form.

Question 2

Channel Flow

Answer 2

The volume of water flowing within a river channel (also called discharge, and runoff)

Question 3

Surface Runoff

Answer 3

Also called overland flow. Flow over the surface during an intense storm, or when the ground is frozen, saturated or on impermeable clay.

Question 4

Interception

Answer 4

Temporary storage, as water is captured by plants, buildings and hard surfaces before reaching the soil.

Question 5

Throughflow

Answer 5

Also known as inter-flow; water seeping laterally through soil below the surface, but above the water table.

Question 6

Percolation

Answer 6

The downward seepage of water through rock under gravity, especially on permeable rocks e.g. sandstone and chalk.

Question 7

Evapotranspiration

Answer 7

The combined effect of evaporation and transportation.

Question 8

River discharge

Answer 8

The volume of water passing a certain point in the channel over a certain amount of time.

Question 9

Evaporation

Answer 9

The conversion of water to vapour

Question 10

Transpiration

Answer 10

Water taken up by plants and transpired onto the leaf surface

Question 11

Vegetation Storage

Answer 11

Any moisture taken up by vegetation and held within plants

Question 12

Surface storage

Answer 12

Any surface water in lakes, ponds, puddles

Question 13

Soil moisture ;)

Answer 13

Water held within the soil

Question 14

Groundwater storage

Answer 14

Water held within permeable rocks aka an aquifer (an underground lake)

Question 15

Channel storage

Answer 15

Water held in rivers and streams

Question 16

Infiltration

Answer 16

Water entering the topsoil. Most common during slow or steady rainfall