1.1 Drainage Basin Systems Definitions

Question 1

Hydrological Cycle (Definition)

Answer 1

The way water moves from the sea through the air, onto and into land and back to the sea

Question 1

Drainage Basin (Definition)

Answer 1

• The area of land drained by a river & its tributaries
• Supplies a river w/ water

Question 2

Drainage Density (Definition)

Answer 2

• Know drainage basin area & area of tributaries which cover it
• Area/length of tributaries / rivers over total area of basin

Question 3

Phreatic Zone

Answer 3

Permanently saturated zone with solid rocks etc

Question 4

Areatic Zone

Answer 4

Zone which is seasonally wetted & dries out water table

Question 5

Aquifers

Answer 5

Water stored in rocks below groudn (porous rocks)

Question 6

Antecedent Moisture

Answer 6

Water which stays in the soil after a rainfall events

Question 7

Channel Storage

Answer 7

Water stored in rivers, streams & channels

Question 8

Groundwater Storage

Answer 8

Water stored in aquifers below surface in water table - 97%

Question 9

Soil Moisture Storage

Answer 9

Subsurface water in the soil and layers above water table

Question 10

Surface Storage

Answer 10

Water not infiltratred surface
- Temporary; puddles
- Permanent; Lakes

Question 11

Interception

Answer 11

The capture & storage of precipitation

Question 12

Channel Flow

Answer 12

Movement of water in streams & river

Question 13

Infiltration

Answer 13

Rate the of absorption of water into the soil

Question 14

Spring

Answer 14

Flows of water where water table intersects the surface

Question 15

Ground Water / Base flow

Answer 15

The flow of water from the water table into the river - very slow
Keeps river discharge high in between rainfall events

Question 16

Through Flow

Answer 16

The linear downward movement of water just below the surface - after infiltration

Question 17

Percolation

Answer 17

Vertical downward moveemnt of water through pours & joint

Question 18

Infiltration

Answer 18

The movement of water from the surface to the soil (vertically down gravity)

Question 19

Saturated Overland Flow

Answer 19

The field capacity of the soil has been reached - so no more water can infiltrate leading to overland flow

Question 20

Hortonian Overland Flow

Answer 20

When the precipitation rate overtakes the rate of infiltration - leading to water not being able infiltrate - intensity

Question 21

Throughfall

Answer 21

Water that falls to earth from branches and leaves

Question 22

Stemflow

Answer 22

Water that is intercepted and then flows along branches, trunks & stems to the surface

Question 23

Evapotranspiration

Answer 23

Combination of moisture loss due to evaporation & transpiration

Question 24

Transpiration

Answer 24

Movement of water within plants

Question 25

River Discharge

Answer 25

Volume of water passing a certain point in a certain time m cubed /s - cumecs