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The Water Cycle > 5.2 > Flashcards

5.2 Flashcards

1
Q

What is a drainage basin?

A

The area of land drained by a river and it’s tributaries, is also referred to as the river’s catchment.

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2
Q

What is the boundary of a drainage basin called, what is this?

A

The Watershed
Usually a ridge of high land which divides and separates water flowing to different rivers.

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3
Q

Why are drainage basin’s open systems?

A

It has external inputs and outputs that cause the amount of water in the basin to vary.

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4
Q

What conditions need to occur for precipitation to occur?

A
  • Air cooled to saturation point with a relative humidity of 100%
  • Condensation nuclei such as dust particles to facilitate the growth of droplets in clouds
  • A temperature below dew point
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5
Q

What are the main triggers for the development of rain?

A
  • Amount of precipitation
  • Type of precipitation
  • Seasonality
  • Intensity of precipitation
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6
Q

What is interception?

A

Retention of water by plants or soil

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7
Q

What are the 3 main components in interception?

A
  • Interception loss
  • Throughfall
  • Steam flow
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8
Q

What effects the interception capacity of the vegetation cover?

A

Type of tree - whether it has needles of a coniferous forest which allows more water to be accumulated. There are also contrasts between deciduous forests in summer and winter

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9
Q

What is infiltration?

A

Water soaks into the soil or planta

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10
Q

What is infiltration capacity?

A

The maximum rate at which rain can be absorbed by soil in a given condition.

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11
Q

What can effect infiltration?

A
  • Duration of rainfall
  • Saturation of soil
  • Soil type
  • Vegetation
  • Slope angle
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12
Q

What is overland flow, when does it occur?

A

This can also be known as surface run off, it is the way in which water is retuned to the river.

In order for this to occur precipitation intensity has to exceed the infiltration rate.

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13
Q

What is Throughflow?

A

This is the lateral transfer of water down slope through the soil via natural pipes - shape of land

Whilst slower than direct overland flow, it can occur rapidly.

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14
Q

What is percolation?

A

This is the deep transfer of water into bedrock
Humid climates or on vegetated slopes.

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15
Q

What is saturated overland flow?

A

This is the result of movement of the water table into the evaporation zone.

This leads to saturated overland flow.

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16
Q

What is groundwater flow?

A

The slow transfer of percolated water water through bedrock.

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17
Q

What is channel/river flow?

A

Water enters river/channel and flows out to sea

18
Q

What is evaporation?

A

This is the physical process by which moisture is lost directly to the atmosphere from water surfaces and soil.

19
Q

What factors influence evaporation?

A
  • Temperature
  • Hours of sunshine
  • Humidity
  • Windspeed
20
Q

What is transpiration?

A

The process where water is lost from plants through pores into the atmosphere, this can depend on the time of year and type of vegetation

21
Q

What is Evapotranspiration?

A

The combined effect of evaporation and transpiration

22
Q

How does climate influence inputs, flows and outputs?

A

Influences type of precipitation and amount of evaporation. It also influences vegetation type.

23
Q

How do soils influence inputs, flows and outputs?

A

Soil determines the amount of infiltration and through flow so can increase or decrease lag time.

24
Q

How does geology influence inputs, flows and outputs?

A

This influences subsurface processes such as percolation and groundwater flow.

25
Q

How does Relief influence inputs, flows and outputs?

A

Altitude can impact precipitation levels and slopes can effect the amount of run off.

26
Q

How does vegetation effect inputs, flows and outputs?

A

The presence or absence of vegetation has an effect on the amount of interception, infiltration and the amount of overland flow, as well as transpiration rates.

27
Q

How do humans impact precipitation?

A

Cloud seeding - introduction of silver iodide pellets or ammonium nitrate to act as condensation nuclei to attract water droplets . The aim of this is to increase precipitation in drought stricken areas.

28
Q

How do Humans influence evaporation and transpiration?

A

Changes in global land use, for example deforestation are a key influence.

Increased evaporation as a result of artificial reservoirs, behind mega dams.

The channelisation of rivers in urban areas cuts down surface storage and therefore evaporation.

29
Q

How do Humans impact Interception?

A

Interception is determined by vegetation type and density, deforestation and afforestation

Deforestation leads to a reduction in evapotranspiration and an increase in surface run off.

This increases flooding potential, leads to a decline of surface storage and a decrease in the lag time between peak rainfall and peak discharge.

30
Q

How do Humans impact Infiltration and soil water?

A

Largely result from a change in land use. Infiltration is up to 5 times greater under forests when compared with grassland.

With conversion to farmland, there is reduced interception, increased soil compaction and more overland flow.

31
Q

How do humans impact groundwater?

A

Human use of irrigation for extensive farming has led to declining water table levels in aquifers.

Reductions in water using manufacturing has led to less groundwater being abstracted so levels have begun to rise leading to flooding.

32
Q

What is a flux?

A

Movement of water - specifically the way it moves

33
Q

What is a flow?

A

Movement of water

34
Q

Relief Rainfall

A
  • landscape shape (topography)
  • due to change in temperature as air rises up the side of a hill
35
Q

Convectional Rainfall

A
  • Warmth in air rises and cools forming clouds
  • this rainfall can be seen on warm days
36
Q

Frontal Rainfall

A
  • Warm air front meets cooler air front
  • cool air falls as denser
  • warm air rises
  • mixes to form heavy rainfall
37
Q

Surface Run Off

A

Movement over land (may be saturated)

38
Q

What are the physical factors affecting drainage basins?

A
  • Climate
  • Soils
  • Geology
  • Relief
    -Vegetation
39
Q

What are the human factors affecting drainage basins?

A
  • River management
  • Deforestation
  • Land use (agricultural or urbanisation)
40
Q

What changes have been seen in the Amazon drainage basin?

A
  • Lowering humidities - less ET
  • Less water vapour, less rainfall
  • Soil compacted, more surface run off
  • More evaporation
  • More soil erosion

The Water Cycle (9 decks)

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