Week 2 Flashcards
(29 cards)
What does hydrology affect
spatial distribution of water, landforms and hazards
What is the global water balance
Evaluation of gains and losses in storage in, on and above the Earth
What is the water balance equation (conservation of mass)
change in storage = precipitation - evaporation - runoff
change in S=P-E-R
What unit is the water balance equation in
volume, not %
What is a measure of the average time an individual water molecule stays in a reservoir
Residence time
What is the water balance of a humid climate
P > E
What is the water balance of an arid climate
P < E
How much freshwater is on earth
3%
How much water on earth is usable by humans
1%
What is the mass balance equation for precipitation
Precipitation = losses to atmosphere + soil/groundwater + streamflow + lakes/snow
What are the two types of geomorphic impacts caused by precipitation
fluvial and glacial erosion
What natural hazards are caused by precipitation
landslides, floods, drought
What is a threshold in geomorphology
a condition that when reached or exceeded triggers a landscape response
What is convective rainfall
heating of surface causes warm air to rise, then cool and produce precipitation
What type of precipitation does convective rainfall produce
short duration/intense downpours
What is a cyclone/hurricane
low-pressure system that are short duration but very high intensity
What is a mid-latitude winter storm
lower intensity/long duration, weaken slope overtime
What are Nor’easter’s
mid-latitude winter storms on the east coast of North America
What is the orographic effect
Precipitation increases on windward elevated slopes but decreases on leeward slopes and inland.
Who is in charge of the Global Precipitation Measurement
NASA
What is evapotranspiration
flux of water back to the atmosphere through evaporation (physical) and transpiration (biological)
What is transpiration
Uptake of water through plant tissues, accounts for 10% of water to the atmosphere
What occurs in a water surplus
floods and landslides
What occurs in a water deficit
droughts and land subsidence
