1.3 local hydrological cycles & drainage basins

Question 1

what type of system are local hydrological cycles?

Answer 1

open systems

Question 2

what does an open system mean?

Answer 2

inputs are not determined by outputs

Question 3

what is a drainage basin?

Answer 3

an area drained by a river and its tributaries

Question 4

what is it called when 2 rivers meet?

Answer 4

confluence

Question 5

what are the 3 pathways which water can follow?

Answer 5

infiltration
overland flow
evaporation

Question 6

what is precipitation?

Question 7

what is interception?

Question 8

what is overland flow?

Question 9

what is infiltration?

Question 10

what is percolation?

Question 11

what is throughflow?

Question 12

what is baseflow?

Question 13

what are the 6 factors that control how precipitation reacts when it reaches the land?

Answer 13

relief - steep = water travels faster

geology - impermeable = overland flow

climate - warmer = more evaporation = ice thaws

land use - urban areas are impermeable = overland flow

vegetation - deforestation = more surface water

drainage density - large area = more infiltration

Question 14

what is the process of convectional rainfall?
(4 steps)

Answer 14

1. solar radiation evaporates surface water
2. warm air rises
3. air cools and condenses forming clouds
4. precipitation occurs

Question 15

what is the process of frontal rainfall?
(4 steps)

Answer 15

1. warm air rises above cold air as it is less dense
2. warm air cools and condenses
3. clouds form
4. heavy rainfall occurs

Question 16

how can over abstraction of groundwater impact the drainage basin?

Answer 16

rivers dry up during periods of low rainfall

Question 17

how can deforestation impact the drainage basin?

Answer 17

reduced canopy layer = less low pressure = less rainfall

Question 18

how can a change in land use impact the drainage basin?

Answer 18

impermeable surfaces are created so there is reduced infiltration and increased surface run off

Question 19

how can reservoirs impact the drainage basin?

Answer 19

they delay the flow of water and removes water from the drainage basin as there is more surface water that is evaporated by solar radiation