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Physical Geography > R - Definitions > Flashcards

R - Definitions Flashcards

1
Q

Abrasion

A

The bed/banks are eroded by rocks/material carried by the river which scrape against, and wear away the channel.

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2
Q

Antecedent Rainfall

A

Previous rainfall

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3
Q

Attrition

A

Reduction in size of fragments/particles within a river due to erosion, and as fragments hit each other/the bed and banks, and wear down becoming small and smooth

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4
Q

Braiding

A

If the river has a high sediment load, and low energy, the sediment is deposited, blocking the rivers route, this caused the river to continually change route.

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5
Q

Baseflow

A

Water that reaches the channel largely through slow through flow, and from permeable rock below the water table

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6
Q

Channel flow

A

The water that eventually flows out of the drainage basin

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7
Q

Competance

A

The largest size particle a river can carry

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8
Q

Condensation

A

The process by which water vapour is converted into water

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9
Q

Corrosion/Solution

A

The minerals in the rock are dissolved by the water and carried away in solution, particularly carbonates

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10
Q

Critical erosion velocity

A

The velocity needed to pick up (erode) particles of different sizes. In general the larger the particle, the higher the velocity needed to pick it up

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11
Q

Delta

A

Areas of sediment deposited at the mouth of the river when it enters a slow-moving body water (eg the sea/a lake)

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12
Q

Discharge

A

The volume of water flowing in a river per second (measured in cubic meters per second)

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13
Q

Drainage basin

A

The land area or catchment area drained by a single river and its tributaries.

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14
Q

Eustatic Rejuvination

A

Where the sea level rises or falls causing a GLOBAL change

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15
Q

Evaportation

A

The process by which liquid water is transformed into water vapoure

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16
Q

Evapotranspiration

A

The loss of warer from a drainage basin into the atmosphere from leaves of plants

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17
Q

Flocculation

A

When clay and silt particles stick together

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18
Q

Flood

A

A temporary excess of water which spills over onto land

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19
Q

Floodplain

A

Flat areas of land either side of the river channel, made from deposited silts and clays

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20
Q

Gradient

A

The slope of the land

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21
Q

Graded profile

A

Long profile of a river where erosion and deposition are in equilibrium

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22
Q

Groundwater flow

A

The slowest transfer of water in the drainage basin, through the underlying permeable rock strata

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23
Q

Groundwater storage

A

The storage of water underground in permeable rock strata

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24
Q

Helicoidal flow

A

The corkscrew flow inside a meander, responsible for moving material from the outside of one bend to the inside of the next

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25
Hydrological cycle
The continuous movement of water between the land, sea and air
26
Hydraulic action
The sheer force of the moving water forces air into cracks and drags water over sediment, lifting it. -most effective during times of high flow
27
Hydraulic radius
The ratio of cross sectional area of the channel and the length of its wetter perimeter
28
Impermeable
Not permitting the passage of fluid through the pores, interstices etc
29
Infiltration
The downward movement of water into soil from the surface
30
Interception
Prevention of precipitation from reaching the Earths surface by plants and trees
31
Interception storage
The total volume of water held on the surface of vegetation
32
Interlocking spurs
Outcrops of land which the river in the upper course must wind around as it hasn't got the energy to erode through them. Usually accompanied by V Shaped valleys
33
Isostatic change/rejuvination
Changes in sea level resulting from the rise and fall of land masses
34
Lag time
The delay between peak rainfall and peak discharge
35
Lateral erosion
Erosion of width
36
Levées
Naturally occuring raised embankments formed when a river overflows its banks and material is deposited along the banks
37
Long Valley Profile
The profile of a river from source to mouth
38
Meander
Bends causing sinuosity within the river - typically found in the middle course
39
Meander scar
Formed when an oxbow lake dries up
40
Oxbow Lake
Horseshoe shaped lakes formed when a river erodes through the meander bend forming a new straight channel
41
Overland flow
The movement of water over the surface of the land, usually when the ground is saturated or frozen or when precipitation is too intense for infiltration to occur
42
Percolation
The gravity of water within soil
43
Pools
Areas of deeper water with a more gentle flow, caused by difference in river energy
44
Pothole
Holes within the riverbed carved into rock. Turbulent, high velocity water loaded with pebbles 'drills' into the rock. Pebbles become trapped in the rock
45
Percipitation
Water in any form that falls from the atmosphere to the surface of the Earth.
46
Rapids
If there is a sudden change in gradient, the river becomes more turbulent and has more erosive power
47
Recurrence interval
The time period between floods of a particular level
48
Rejuvination
When there is a fall in sea level relative to the land, or a rise in land relative to the sea, this gives the river more potential energy
49
Relief
Shape of the land
50
Riffles
Areas of shallower water with fast flow, caused by difference in river energy
51
Sinuosity
The 'curviness' of the river
52
Soil moisture
When precipitation is greater than evapotranspirtaion, any empty pores in the soil will be filled with water
53
Soil storage
The total volume of water help within the soil
54
Surface storage
Includes water in puddles, ponds and lakes
55
Stem flow
The water that runs down the stems and branches of plants and trees during and after rain to reach the ground
56
Thalweg
The line of greatest velocity or fastest flow with the river
57
Surface Run off/Overground flow
The down slope flow of water over the surface
58
Throughflow
Water moving slowly downhill through the soil
59
Water table
The surface of the saturated layer of soil or rock
60
Transpiration
The process by which water is lost into the atmosphere from a plant through stomata
61
Watershed
The boundary of a drainage basin/the margin between 2 watersheds
62
Wetted perimeter
Length of bed and banks that is in contact with the water

Physical Geography (27 decks)

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