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Flashcards in Water Cycles Deck (20)
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1
Q

Dynamic equilibrium

A

where there is a balance between inputs and outputs

2
Q

Closed system

A

there is a transfer of energy into and beyond the system but no matter

3
Q

Open system

A

both energy and matter transfer freely into and out of the system

4
Q

Oceanic water

A

5 oceanic bodies containing 72% of the earth surface area

5
Q

Cryospheric water

A

made up of ice sheets, glaciers and permafrost

6
Q

Terrestrial water

A

rivers and lakes, 52% of the freshwater on earth is stored in lakes and 1% in rivers

7
Q

Atmospheric water

A

most common form is water, absorbs and reflects solar radiation

8
Q

What can a small increase in water vapour do?

A

increase atmospheric temperatures (positive feedback)

9
Q

Flood

A

a body of water that rises to overflow land that is normally submerged

10
Q

Drainage basin

A

an area of land drained be a river and its tributaries

11
Q

Lag time

A

the time taken from the peak rainfall to peak discharge

12
Q

Base flow

A

the amount of water that would be in the river without the storm flow

13
Q

Storm flow

A

overland flow and throughflow

14
Q

Flashy hydrograph

A

short lag time, high peak discharge, sleep rising limb and sleep falling limb

15
Q

Subdued hydoggraph

A

long lag time, low peak discharge and a gentle rising limb

16
Q

Monsoon

A

a seasonal reversal in wind direction that brings a period of intense rainfall

17
Q

Features of a river:

define 7 terms

A
  • source: where water from surface runoff or from rock percolation, first forms a water channel to transfer water to a new store downstream
  • tributary: smaller channel which joins the main channel and contributes to the total flow
  • confluence: where rivers meet and join up
  • flood plain: an area in the lower course which regularly floods during events of higher flow
  • water shed: the border of the drainage basin
  • estuary: governed by the tide, as sea and fresh water meet, the flow slows down and accretion occurs
  • mouth: where the river meets the ocean
18
Q

Features of a drainage basin:

define terms and sort into inputs (1), flows (7), stores (4) and outputs (3)

A

INPUTS:
-precipitation: water that falls to the earth in any form
FLOWS (transfers or fluxes):
-channel flow: precipitation directly entering the river channel
-stem flow: water reaches the ground by flowing down trunks or stems or by dropping off leaves
-overland flow: also called surface runoff, occurs during heavy rainfall when the ground is saturated or if surfaces are impermeable, very rare except in urban areas
-groundwater flow: water in this zone moves laterally (sideways) at a very slow rate. it transfers water to the river through the river bed and banks long after rainfall events
-percolation: a vertical movement of water from above the water table to below the water table, if the bedrock is impermeable, e.g. granite, no percolation occurs
-infiltration: the passage of water vertically into the soil. this does not occur if soil is saturated
-through flow: water flows laterally through the soil to the channel, mainly along ‘‘pipes’’ caused by animal activity or growth of plant roots
STORES:
-interception: raindrops fall on vegetation, preventing it from reaching the soil and river
-soil moisture: water stored in the soil above the water table
-surface water: water stored on the surface, e.g. lakes and rivers
-aquifers (groundwater): water stored below the water table in saturated soil or rock
OUTPUTS:
-evaporation: moisture lost into the atmosphere by the sun’s heat and wind
-evapotranspiration: biological process where water is loss as vapour through small pores in plant’s leaves
-river discharge: fresh water enters the ocean and so leaves the drainage basin

19
Q

the drainage basin is a……………..system:

A

open system as matter (water) enters and leaves through the system barrier and energy is input

20
Q

discharge is

A

River discharge is the volume of water flowing through a river channel. This is the total volume of water flowing through a channel at any given point and is measured in cubic metres per second (cumecs). The discharge from a drainage basin depends on precipitation, evapotranspiration and storage factors.