PRELIM Flashcards
(172 cards)
1
Q
Evaporation which occurs at a rate controlled by the available water. (plant transpiration may be restricted by low soil moisture)
A
Actual Evaporation
2
Q
it forms in the atmosphere when industrial gas emissions combine with precipitating water.
A
Acid Rain
3
Q
energy that originates elsewhere and has been transported to a region where it becomes available energy.
A
Advective Energy
4
Q
a term to account for the way that the water evaporating off a surface mixes with a potentially drier atmosphere above it through turbulent mixing.
A
Aerodynamic resistance
5
Q
Reflectivity of a surface (unit percentage)
A
Albedo
6
Q
measure of the capacity to absorb hydrogen ions without a change in pH. This is influenced by the concentration of hydroxide, bicarbonate, or carbonate ions.
A
Alkalinity
7
Q
used to denote how useful an area is for recreation and other purposes
A
Amenity Value
8
Q
Instrument for measuring wind speed
A
Anemometer
9
Q
River flow data used in flood frequency analysis. It takes the highest flow in every year of the period.
A
Annual maximum series
10
Q
A layer of unconsolidated or consolidated rock that is able to transmit and store enough water for extraction.
A
Aquifer
11
Q
An aquifer that has restricted flow above
A
Confined Aquifer
12
Q
An aquifer that has no upper limit.
A
Unconfined Aquifer
13
Q
A water resource management technique involving the addition of surface water into an aquifer for storage to be recovered later.
A
Aquifer storage and recovery
14
Q
A totally impermeable rock formation
A
Aquifuge
15
Q
A geological formation that transmits water at a much slower rate than the aquifer.
A
Aquitard.
16
Q
The average rainfall for an area calculated from several different point measurements.
A
Areal rainfall
17
Q
Water that flows directly to the surface from a confined aquifer. The water in aquifer is under pressure so it is able to reach the surface of a well.
A
Artesian water or well.
18
Q
A North American Space Agency (NASA) satellite used mainly for atmospheric interpretation
A
Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR)
19
Q
The amount of water flowing down a river when it is full to the top of its banks.
A
Bankfull discharge
20
Q
The portion of streamflow that is not attributed to storm precipitation, referred to as sloflow.
A
Baseflow
21
Q
The process of a raindrop growth through a strong water vapour gradient between ice crystals and small water droplets.
A
Bergeron process
22
Q
A measure of the oxygen required by bacteria and other microorganisms to break down organic matter in a water sample. A strong indicator of the level of oragnic pollution in a river.
A
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
23
Q
The ratio of sensible heat to latent heat. This is sometimes used within a method to measure evaporation from a surface.
A
Bowen Ratio
24
Q
A law of physics relating to pressure (P), temperature (T), volume (V), and concentration of molecules in gases.
A
Boyle’s Law
25
The volume of water that can be held in the canopy before water starts dripping as indirect throughfall
Canopy Storage Capacity
26
The forces holding back soil water so that it does not drain completely through a soil under gravity. Its primary cause is surface tension between water and soil surfaces.
Capillary Forces
27
The area of land from which water flows towards a river and then from that river to the sea. Also known as river basin.
Catchment
28
Water flowing within a channel. A general term for streamflow or riverflow.
Channel flow
29
The confinement of a river into a permanent, rigid, channel structure. This often occurs as part of urbanisation and flood protection
Channelisation
30
The artificial generation of precipitation through provision of extra condensation nuclei within a cloud.
Cloud Seeding
31
The movement of water from a gaseous state into a liquid state
Condensation
32
Minute particles present in the atmosphere upon which the water or ice droplets form.
Condensation Nuclei
33
Precipitation caused by heating from the earth's surface, leading to uplift of a moist air body
Convective precipitation
34
A form of molecular bonding where electrons are shared between two atoms in the molecule. This is the strongest form of chemical bond and exists within a water molecule.
Covalent Bonding
35
Precipitation caused by a low-pressure weather system where the air is constantly being forced upwards.
Cyclonic precipitation
36
Water that condenses from the atmosphere (upon cooling) onto a surface (frequently vegetation)
Dewfall (dew)
37
A technique to measure streamflow based on the dilution of a tracer by the water in the stream
Dilution gauging
38
Is frequently used to denote the amount of water flowing down a river/stream with time.
Discharge
39
The rainfall that produces stormflow. Term is used in the derivation and implementation of the unit hydrograph.
Effective rainfall
40
A term used to describe the addition of nutrients to an aquatic ecosystem that leads to an increase in net primary productivity.
Eutrophication
41
This term is someitmes used to indicate the enhanced addition of nutrients through human activity. This may lead to problems with excess weed and algal growth in a river.
Cultural Eutrophication
42
The movement of water from a liquid to a gaseous form (water vapor) and dispersal into the atmosphere
Evaporation
43
A large vessel of water, with a measuring instrument or weighing device underneath that allows you to record how much water is lost through evaporation over a time period.
Evaporation pan
44
A combination of direct evaporation from soil/water and transpiration from plants. The term recognises the fact that much of the earth's surface is a mixture of vegetation cover and bare soil.
Evapotranspiration
45
The actual maximum water content that a soil can hold under normal field conditions. This is often less than the saturated water content as the water does not fill all the pore space and gravity drains large pores very quickly
Field Capacity
46
A flood event that occurs as a result of extremely intense rainfall causing a rapid rise in water levels in a stream. This is common in arid and semi-arid regions
Flash Flood
47
An inundation of land adjacent to a river caused by a period of abnormally large discharge or sea enroachment on the land.
Flood
48
A technique to investigate the magnitude-frequency relationship for floods in a particular river. Based on historical hydrograph records.
Flood Frequency Analysis
49
A graphical description of the percentage of time a certain discharge is exceeded for a particular river
Flow Duration Curve
50
The rate of flow of some quantity
Flux
51
Rate of flow of water as evaporation
Evaporative flux
52
Relationship between how often and how large a particular event is. (Large floods do not happen very often)
Frequency-magnitude
53
A computer program which is able to store, manipulate, and display spatial digital data over an area
Geographic Information Systems
54
The study of landforms and how they have evolved.
Geomorphology
55
The ratio of the weight of water in a soil to the overall weight of a soil
Gravimetric soil moisture content
56
Water held in the saturated zone beneath a water table. The area of groundwater is also referred to as water in the phreatic zone.
Groundwater
57
Water which moves down a hydraulic gradient in the saturated (phreatic) zone
Groundwater flow
58
The study of hydrological processes operating at the hillslope scale
Hillslope hydrology
59
The relationship between water velocity and sediment erosion and deposition
Hjulstrom curve
60
See infiltration excess overland flow
Hortonian overland flow
61
A measure of the ability of a porous medium to transmit water. This is a flux term with units of m/s. It is highly dependent on water content
Hydraulic conductivity
62
The wetted perimeter of a river divided by a cross-sectional area
Hydraulic radius
63
Bonding between atoms or molecules caused by the electrical attraction between negative and positive ion.
Hydrogen bonding
64
A continuous record of streamflow
Hydrograph
65
The splitting of a hydrograph into stormflow and baseflow
Hydrograph Separation
66
A conceptual model of how water moves around between the earth and atmosphere in different states as a gas, liquid, or solid. This can be at the global or catchment scale.
Hydrological Cycle
67
The science or study of water
Hydrology
68
The science of streamflow measurement
Hydrometry
69
The ability of some soils to rapidly swell upon contact with water so that the initial infiltration rate is low.
Hydrophobicity and hydrophobic soils
70
A method for estimating areal rainfall based on the topography of the area
Hypsometric method
71
The difference insoil suction at a given water content dependent on whether the soil is being wetted or dried
Hysteresis
72
The rate of infiltration of water into a soil when a soil is fully saturated
Infiltration capacity
73
Overland flow that occurs when the rainfall rate exceeds the infiltration rate for a soil.
Infiltration excess overland flow
74
How much water enters a soil during a certain time interval.
Infiltratrion rate
75
An instrument to measure the infiltration rate and infiltration capacity for a soil
Infiltrometer
76
A combination of hydrology and aquatic ecology used to assess how much water, and the flow regime, that is required by a particular acquatic fauna in a river or stream
Instream flow assessment
77
A form of IWRM that promotes the river catchment as the appropriate organising unit for understanding and managing water-related biophysical processes in a context that includes social, economic and political considerations.
Integrated catchment management
78
A water resource management paradigm that promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources in order to maximise the resultant economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without comprimising the sustainability of vital ecosystems.
Integrated water resource management
79
The interception of precipitation above the earth's surface. This may be by a vegetation canopy or buildings. Some of this intercepted water may be evaporated; referred to as interception loss.
Interception
80
A method for estimating areal rainfall based on the known distribution of rainfall within the area
Isohyetal Method
81
The flood resulting from an ice-dam burst
Jokulhlaup
82
A spatial statistics technique that identifies the similarity between adjacent and further afield point measurements. This can be used to interpolate an average surface from a series of point measurements
Kringing
83
A series of satellites launched by the NASA to study the earth's surface
LANDSAT
84
The energy required to produce a phase change from ice to liquid water, or liquid water to water vapor.
Latent heat
85
When water moves from liquid to gas and energy is los
Negative flux
86
When water moves from gas to liquid produces a what
Positive heat flux
87
See throughflow
Lateral flow
88
A period of extreme low flow in a river hydrograph
Low flow
89
A technique to investigate the magnitude-frequency relationship for low flows in a particular river.
Low flow frequency analysis
90
A device for collecting water from the pore spaces of soils and for determining the soluble constituents removed in the drainage.
Lysimeter
91
Large pores within a soil matrix, typically with a diameter greater than 3mm
Macropores
92
A representation of the hydrological processes operating within an area.
Model
93
An agricultural technique involveing the provision of rapid subsurface drainage routes within an agricultural field.
Mole drainage
94
The total electromagnetic radiation received at a point. This includes direct solar radiation and re-radiation from the earth's surface.
Net radiation
95
An instrument to estimate the soil water content using a radioactive source of fast neutrons.
Neutron probe
96
The evaporation that occurs above a body of water such as lake, stream, or the ocean
Open water evaporation
97
Precipitation caused by an air mass being forced to rise over an obstruction such as a mountain range
Orographic Precipitation
98
Water which runs across the surface of the land before reaching a stream. This is one form of runoff
Overland flow
99
The downstream dip is dissolved oxygen content that can be found after the addition of organix pollution
Oxygen sag curve
100
The idea that only certain parts of a catchment area contribute overland flow to stormflow
Partial areas concept
101
River flow data used in flood frequency analysis.
Partial duration series
102
See stormflow
peakflow
103
Area where the water table is held above a regional water table, usually due to small impermeable lenses in the soil or geological formation
Perched water table
104
The concentration of hydrogen ions within a water sample. A measure of water acidity on an inverse logarithmic scale
pH
105
The area beneath a water table
Phreatic zone
106
A tube with holes at the base that is placed at depth within a soil or rock mantle no measure the water pressure at a set location
Piezometer
107
The rapid movement of water through a hillslope in a series of linked pipes.
Pipeflow
108
The percentage of pore space
Porosity
109
Evaporation which occurs over the land's surface if the water supply is unrestricted.
Potential evaporation
110
Movement of water from the atmosphere to the earth's surface.
Precipitation
111
Precipitation in liquid form.
Rainfall
112
The rate at which rainfall occurs. A depth of rainfall per unit time, most commonly mm/hr
Rainfall intensity
113
An instrument for measuring the amount of rainfall at a point for a period of time.
Rain gauge
114
An uneven distribution of rainfall caused by a large high landmass.
Rain shadow effect
115
The relationship between river stage (height) and discharge
Rating curve
116
The period after a peak of stormflow where the streamflow values gradually recede.
Recession limb
117
How close to fully saturated the atmosphere is
Relative humidity
118
The start of a stormflow peak
Rising limb (of hydrograph)
119
A large natural stream of water flowing over the surface and normally contained within a river channel
River
120
The area of land from which water flows towards a river and then in that river to the sea. Also known as the river catchment
River Basin
121
A term used in equations such as Chezy and Manning's to estimate the degree that water is slowed down by friction along the bed surface
Roughness coefficient
122
The movement of liquid water above and below the surface of the eath prior to reaching a stream or river
Runoff
123
The build up of salts in a soil or water body
Salination
124
The interpretation of ground characteristics based on measurements of radiation from the earth/atmosphere.
Satellite remote sensing
125
Overland flow that occurs when a soil is completely saturated.
Saturated overland flow
126
The maximum amount of water that the soil can hold. It is equivalent to the soil porosity, which assumes that the water fills all the pore space within a soil
Saturated water content
127
The maximum vapor pressure possible. The saturation point of an air parcel is temperature-dependent and hence so is the saturation vapor pressure
Saturation vapor pressure
128
The heat which can be sensed or felt. This is most easily understood as the heat we feel as warmth.
Sensible heat
129
The rate of flow of the sensible heat
Sensible heat flux
130
Precipitation in solid form. (vertical depth of liquid water)
Snowfall
131
An instrument used to measure the depth of snow accumulating above a certain point
Snow pillow
132
Heat released from the soil having been previously stored within the soil
Soil heat flux
133
A measured curve describing the relationship between the capillary forces and soil moisture content.
Soil moisture characteristic curve (suction moisture curve)
134
The amount of water required to fill the soil up to field capacity.
Soil moisture deficit
135
A measure of the strength of the capillary forces. A dry soil exerts a high soil suction
Soil Suction
(Moisture tension or soil water tension)
136
Water in the unsaturated zone occurring above a water table. Also referred to as water in the vadose zone.
Soil water
137
The amount of energy required to raise the temperature of a substance by a single degree
Specific heat capacity
138
French satellite to study the earth's surface
SPOT
139
Water lebel height of a river
Stage
140
Rainfall that intercepted by stems and branches, and flows down the tree trunk into the soil
Steamflow
141
The restriction a plant places on its transpiration rate through opening and closing stomata in the leaves.
Stomatal or canopy resistance
142
A term in the water balance equation to account for water that is not a flux or is very slow moving.
Storage.
143
The length of time between rainfall starting and ending within a storm
Storm duration
144
The portion of streamflow that can be attributed to as storm precipitation.
Stormflow
145
A small river
Stream
146
Water flowing within a stream channel. Often referred to as discharge
Streamflow
147
A remote sensing technique that uses radar properties, usually of microwaves.
Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)
148
A unit hydrograph derived from knowledge of catchment characteristics rather than historical hydrograph records.
Synthetic unit hydrograph
149
An instrument used to measure the soil moisture tension
Tensiometer
150
A method of estimating average rainfall for an area based on the spotial distribution of rain gauges.
Thiessen's Polygons
151
The precipitation that falls to the ground either directly or indirectly
Throughfall
152
Water which runs to a stream through the soils. This is frequently within the unsaturated zone.
Throughflow
153
A method to estimate the soil water content based on the interference of propagated electromagnetic waves due to water content.
Time domain reflectometry (TDR)
154
The amount of solids dissolved within a water sample. This is closely related to the electrical conductivity of water sample.
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
155
The amount of solids suspended within a water sample. This is closely related to the turbidity of a water sample.
Total Suspended Solids (TSS)
156
The movement of liquid water from a plant leaf to a water vapor in the atmosphere.
Transpiration
157
The cloudiness of a water sample
Turbidity
158
An instrument that measures stream discharge based on the alteration to a propagated wave over a known cross section
Ultrasonic Flow Gauge
159
A model of stormflow in a particular catchment used to predict possible future storm impacts.
Unit Hydrograph
160
Area between the water table and the earth's surface. The soil/rock is normally partially saturated
Vadose Zone
161
pressure exerted within the parcel of air by having the water vapor present within it. The more water vapor is present the greater the vapor pressure.
Vapor Pressure
162
The difference between actual vapor pressure and saturation vapor pressure
Vapor pressure deficit
163
The idea that only certain parts of a catchment area contribute overland flow to stormflow and that these vary in space and time, compare to the partial areas concept.
Variable source areas concept
164
A technique to measure instantaneous streamflow through measuring the cross-sectional area and the velocity through the cross section
Velocity-area method
165
The ratio of the volume of water in a soil to the overall volume of a soil.
Volumetric soil moisture content
166
A mathematical description of the hydrological processes operating within a given timeframe. Normally includes precipiration, runoff, evaporation, and change in storage.
Water balance equation
167
The surface that differentiates between fully saturated and partially saturated soil/rock
Water table
168
Water in a gaseous form
Water vapor
169
A tube with permeable sides all the way up so that water can enter or exit from anywhere up the column
Well
170
The total perimeter of a cross section in a river
Wetted perimeter
171
The soil water content when plants start to die back or wilt
Wilting Point
172
The height within a canopy at which wind speed drops to zero
Zero plane displacement
