Hydrosphere Flashcards
(28 cards)
evaporation
the process of solar energy turning liquid into vapor or gas
advection
the horizontal transport of liquid and air
condensation
the process of vapor or gas turning into a liquid
precipitation
any moisture which falls from the atmosphere to the ground
snow, sleet, hail etc.
surface run off
movement of water across the surface of the ground
imprmeable surface
infiltration
the movement of water into soil due to gravity
permeable surface
through flow
water travelling through the soil due to gravity
percolation
deeper movement of water through permeable rock pores by gravity and capillary forces
groundwater flow
deeper movement of water through rocks
transpiration
the evaporation of water from plants through leaf pores
evapotranspiration
water loss through evaporation and transpiration
sublimation
conversion of solid to gas witnessed on ice and glaciers
abrasion
river erosion
when small particles of rock carried by the river rub the surface of the river bed and wear it away
hydraulic action
river erosion
water flowing past river banks is forced into tiny cracks, compressing air causing materials to be dislodged
attrition
river erosion
when the load repeatedly hits against each other causing it to break apart
corrosion
river erosion
when the river water disolves minerals from the rocks and washes them away
traction
river transportation
when larger particles such as pebbles are rolled along the river bed
saltation
river transportation
when sand-sized particles bounce along the river bed
suspension
river transportation
fine particles such as silt are carried within the water
solution
river transportation
when materials disolve into the water and are then carried away by the river
upper course
river course
characteristics
- narrow v-shaped valley
- steep gradient
- vertical erosion
- large, rough, angular load
features
- waterfalls
- rapids
- gorges
middle course
river course
characteristics
- more open v-shaped valley
- gental gradient
- vertical and lateral erosion
- small, smooth load
features
- meanders
- river cliffs
- river beaches
lower course
river course
characteristics
- flat land (flood plain)
- wide channel
- fast flowing
- lateral erosion
- very small, smoothe, rounded load
features
- meanders
- ox-bow lakes
- levees
- braiding
- deltas
v-shaped valley
formation
- vertical erosion by river - the river cuts a deep slice into the landscape through hydraulic action, abrasion, and corrosion
- as the river cuts down, the valley sides become exposed to weathering which loosens the rock and gravity causes peices to fall into the river
- fallen debris aids further abrasion leading to more erosion
- as the river moves downstream it carries the debris and the channel becomes wider and deeper, creating a v-shaped valley between interlocking spurs