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Geography Smith = Key Terms (1) 🌳 > The Water Cycle > Flashcards

The Water Cycle Flashcards

(65 cards)

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1
Q

Precipitation

A

The input into a drainage system

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2
Q

Interception

A

The storage of water when it lands on vegetation before it reaches the soil

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3
Q

Surface storage + what it includes

A

The storage of water on the surface
Including puddles, ponds and lakes

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4
Q

Soil moisture

A

The storage of water in soil

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5
Q

Groundwater storage (2)

A

The storage of water in the ground rocks of permeable rock
Rocks with lots of water storage are called aquifers

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6
Q

Channel storage

A

The storage of water in a river channel

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7
Q

Vegetation storage

A

The storage of water in vegetation

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8
Q

Surface runoff/ overland flow (2)

A

The horizontal flow of water over the surface of the land
Usually a quick flow

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9
Q

Stem flow

A

The flow of water owing downwards from interception storage to the storage

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10
Q

Throughfall

A

The downwards movement of water as it drips from one leaf to another

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11
Q

Throughflow

A

The horizontal flow of water moving through soil towards a river

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12
Q

Interflow

A

The horizontal movement of water through rock above the water table

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13
Q

Infiltration

A

The downwards movement of water from the surface into the soil

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14
Q

Percolation

A

The downwards movement of water from the soil to the permeable ground rock

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15
Q

Groundwater flow

A

The horizontal movement of water through the rocks below the water table

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16
Q

Baseflow

A

Groundwater flow that feeds into rivers

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17
Q

Channel flow

A

The movement of water in the river channel moving towards the sea

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18
Q

Evaporation + what affects rates (4)

A

The output of water when water is heated and turned from a liquid into a gas.
Rates are affected by temperature, wind, humidity, and water availability

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19
Q

Transpiration (3 steps)

A

The output of water where moisture is taken into plants through their roots then moved to the leaves by capillary action and then evaporates from the leaves into a gas

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20
Q

Evapotranspiration (3)

A

The combined output of water from evaporation and transpiration.
Potential evapotranspiration is the amount that could occur if water were available.
Actual evapotranspiration is the amount that actually occurs

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21
Q

Condensation

A

Transfers of water from a gas to a liquid

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22
Q

Condensation nuclei + example

A

Microscopic particles on which water vapour condenses to form cloud droplets
Example = smoke or dust

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23
Q

Dew point

A

The temperature at which the water vapour in the air becomes saturated and condensation begins

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24
Q

Sublimation

A

Transfer from a solid to a gas

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25
Deposition
Transfer from a gas to a solid
26
Latent heat
The heat required to convert a solid into a liquid or vapour Or a liquid into a vapour
27
Discharge
The output of water from a river channel out to sea
28
Aquifer
A vast underground reservoir most commonly formed in rocks such as chalk and sandstone
29
Impermeable surface
Does not allow water to pass through
30
Permeable surface
Allows water to pass through
31
Urbanisation + what it leads to
The increasing proportion of people living in towns and cities as opposed to the countryside Leads to the displacement of vegetated ground with impermeable concrete or tarmac
32
Deforestation + what it leads to (3)
The removal of trees Leading to surface runoff and soil erosion and reducing soil water stores
33
Drainage basin
The area of land that is drained by a river and its tributaries
34
Source (3)
The point where the river begins Narrow and shallow Discharge is low
35
Mouth (3)
The point where the river meets the sea Wide and deep Discharge is high
36
Watershed
The edge of a drainage basin
37
Tributary
Smaller rivers that feed into the main channel
38
Confluence
The point where two rivers meet
39
Flood hydrograph
A graph showing the discharge of a river following a specific storm event
40
Lag time (2)
Time between peak rainfall and peak discharge Longer lag time = less likely to cause a flood
41
River regime + what affects it (5)
The pattern of discharge over the course of a year Affected by geology, vegetation, urbanisation, size/shape of drainage basin, rainfall intensity
42
Soil moisture budget (2)
Describes the changes in the soil water store during the course of a year. It is determined by precipitation and evapotranspiration
43
Stages of the soil moisture budget (5)
Soil moisture utilisation Soil moisture deficit Soil moisture recharge Field capacity Soil moisture surplus
44
Soil moisture utilisation (2)
The extraction of soil moisture by plants for their needs Efficiency of withdrawal decreases as the soil-moisture storage is reduced.
45
Soil moisture deficit + what its caused by
The point at which soil moisture falls below field capacity Caused by a lack of precipitation and large amounts of evapotranspiration
46
Soil moisture recharge (3)
Following soil moisture deficit Precipitation is greater than potential evapotranspiration Therefore moisture will be added to the soil
47
Field capacity
The point at which soil is saturated
48
Soil moisture surplus (3)
The period when soil is saturated and water cannot enter Flows over the surface Caused by low levels of evapotranspiration and high levels of precipitation
49
Soil prosperity (2)
Pores or spaces in the soil The greater pores or spaces, the greater the water holding ability.
50
Water balance
An equation used to express the relationship between the main water stores
51
Hillslope system
The way in which water moves down a typical hillslope towards a river, involving stores and transfers
52
Irrigation
The supply of water to the land by means of channels, streams and sprinklers in order to permit the growth of crops
53
Water table
The upper level of saturated rock
54
Water abstraction
The extraction of water from rivers or groundwater aquifers
55
Saltwater intrusion (3)
The movement of saltwater into an aquifer May cause contamination Often caused by over abstraction of groundwater from an aquifer
56
Relief/Orographic rainfall (2)
Rainfall formed due to warm moist air being forced to rise by the relief of the land One risen = air cools and condenses = rain
57
Frontal rainfall (2)
Rainfall formed when warm air meets cold air Warm air is less dense and therefore rises above the cold air = cools = condenses = rain
58
Conventional rainfall (2)
Rainfall formed when heat from the sun heats the ground The warm ground heats the air above causing it to rise, cool, condense and from rain
59
Ablation (2)
Outputs from a glacial system sue to melting Size of glacier decreases
60
Accumulation (2)
Inputs to a glacial system due to snowfall Builds a glacier
61
What effects runoff/shape of hydrograph (4++)
Size of drainage basin = larger means catch more precipitation so longer to get peak discharge Shape of basin = circular = more flashy because all points on watershed same distance Steepness = runoff increases = shorter lag time Rock + soil type = impermeable doesn’t store water or allow infiltration = runoff
62
Physical factors affecting water cycle (2++)
Storms = precipitation = increased sotres and flows Seasonal changes = winter means inputs in Cryosphere and veg intercepts rain + slows movement to river + ore water lost through evapotranspiration
63
Human factors that effect water cycle = farming (4+)
Ploughing = breaks up surface which increases infiltration Crops = increased infiltration + interception + evapotranspiration which increases rainfall Livestock = compact soil which reduces infiltration + runoff Irrigation = increased runoff + reduced groundwater stores
64
Human factors effecting water cycle = land use change (2)
Deforestation reduces interception + infiltration Impermeable surfaces = reduced infiltration
65
Human factors effecting water cycle
Abstraction reduces stores

Geography Smith = Key Terms (1) 🌳 (6 decks)

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