Water Balance Flashcards
What is the water balance?
Looks at how the amount of water entering via precipitation compares with the water leaving the system as runoff or as evapotranspiration.
What is the inputs in regards to water balance?
-Precipitation
-Liquid
-Rainfall
-Solid snowfall
Wha are the outputs in regards to water balance?
-Evapotranspiration
What is evaporation?
A process whereby liquid water becomes water vapour + diffuses into the air as a gas.
What is evaporation driven by?
-Heat
What is potential evaporation?
A measure of how much water vapour could be absorbed by the atmosphere if amount of water was not limited.
What is transpiration?
Taking up of water by vegetation mainly for use in photosynthesis through the roots and the stomata.
When does interception occur?
When precipitation lands on vegetation instead of reaching the grounds surface.
What is infiltration?
When water enters the soil.
What is streamflow?
When inputs exceeds outputs as well as increasing the amount of water held in stores.
What does surplus water lead to?
An increase in streamflow.
What is a deficit?
When outputs exceed inputs.
How to you calculate water balance?
Discharge + evaporation +- change in storage
What is discharge?
The amount of water flowing at given place + time.
What is discharge measured in?
Cumecs.
