Definitions

Question 1

Groundwater

Answer 1

Water stored in permeable rocks below the surface of the ground.

Question 2

Run off

Answer 2

The total discharge from the drainage basin

Question 3

Transpiration

Answer 3

The evaporation of moisture from vegetation into the atmosphere

Question 4

Groundwater flow

Answer 4

Water flowing through the rocks towards the river

Question 5

Precipitation

Answer 5

Water and ice that fall from clouds into the drainage basin

Question 6

Throughflow

Answer 6

Water flowing through rock towards the water table.

Question 7

Evaporation

Answer 7

The change of water from liquid to gas, returning water to the atmosphere

Question 8

Percolation

Answer 8

Water draining through rock towards the water table.

Question 9

Throughfall

Answer 9

Precipitation that drips through vegetation to the ground

Question 10

Channel flow

Answer 10

Water flowing in a river.

Question 11

Overland flow

Answer 11

The movement of water over the surface of the ground to rivers.

Question 12

Surface store

Answer 12

Water lying on the ground

Question 13

Channel store

Answer 13

Water stored in a river

Question 14

Vegetation store

Answer 14

Precipitation that is trapped or stored temporarily on the vegetation

Question 15

Stemflow

Answer 15

Precipitation that runs down plant stems and tree trunks to the ground

Question 16

Base flow

Answer 16

That part of a rivers discharge which is produced by groundwater seeping slowly into the bed of the river

Question 17

Infiltration

Answer 17

The process by which water enters the soil

Question 18

Soil water

Answer 18

Water stored in the soil

Question 19

Water table

Answer 19

Level of water underground

Question 20

Drainage basin

Answer 20

The catchment area from which a river system gets its water. An imaginary line separates one drainage basin from another. It generally follows a ridge of highland, any water that falls into it will flow to the drainage basin

Question 21

River discharge

Answer 21

This is the volume of water flowing through a river

Question 22

Storm hydrograph

Answer 22

This is a graph that shows the river discharge changes due to heavy rain

Question 23

Peak rainfall

Answer 23

This is the maximum amount of rainfall

Question 24

Peak discharge

Answer 24

When the river discharge is at its highest

Question 25

Lag-time

Answer 25

Time interval between peak rainfall and peak discharge

Question 26

Rising limb

Answer 26

When the water goes down slope and the river rises

Question 27

Falling limb

Answer 27

When the water goes back to its original volume

Question 28

Bankfull discharge

Answer 28

When the river is at its maximum capacity

Question 29

Regime

Answer 29

In different times of the year the bankfull discharge can change

Question 30

Photosynthesis

Answer 30

Is the process where plants use the light energy from the sun to produce carbohydrates in the form of glucose

Question 31

Respiration

Answer 31

Is a chemical process that happens in all cells, glucose is converted into energy used for growth and repair

Question 32

Decomposition

Answer 32

Is when organisms die and they are consumed by decomposers such as bacteria. The carbon from their bodies is released back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide

Question 33

Burial and compaction

Answer 33

Is when organisms die and they are consumed by decomposers such as bacteria. The carbon from their bodies is released back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide

Question 34

Diffusion

Answer 34

Is the spreading of something more widely

Question 35

Digestion

Answer 35

The process of digesting food

Question 36

Soil respiration

Answer 36

Refers to the production of co2 when soil organisms respire

Question 37

Volcanic gases

Answer 37

When a volcano erupts it releases gases such as co2, so2 and h2o

Question 38

Weathering

Answer 38

Is the break down or decay of rocks in their original place, at or close to the surface. Chemical weathering involves the absorption of co2 from the atmosphere

Question 39

Erosion

Answer 39

Is the gradual destruction of something by natural elements