WCC: Water Cycle - Processes of change at a local scale

Question 1

What 2 natural factors affect the magnitude of water stores on a typical hillslope?

Answer 1

Heavy precipitation e.g intense rainfall during a storm increases groundwater stores
Seasonal changes e.g snowfall and frozen ground in winter interrupts the water transfers

Question 2

What 2 human factors affect the magnitude of water stores on a typical hillslope?

Answer 2

Deforestation
Urbanisation
Farming

Question 3

How does deforestation affect transfers of water on a typical hillslope?

Answer 3

Reduces interception and infiltration, increasing overland flow

Question 4

How does urbanisation affect transfers of water on a typical hillslope?

Answer 4

Impermeable surfaces such as tarmac and concrete will reduce infiltration. Deforestation may occur. Water will flow quickly through drainage pipes to nearly river channels.

Question 5

How does deforestation affect the magnitude of water stores and transfers on a typical hillslope?

Answer 5

Ditches drain the land and encourage water to flow more quickly to rivers. Irrigation increases the amount of water on the ground.

Question 6

What happens to water trapped on the ground surface?

Answer 6

It will be stored as surface storage, evaporate, or start to flow downslope as overland flow.

Question 7

What could lead to water being trapped on the ground surface?

Answer 7

Saturated or frozen soil

If the rate of precipitation exceeds the capacity of the soil to absorb it

Question 8

What is the soil water budget?

Answer 8

The changes in the soil water store during the course of they year