Components Of The Drainage Basin Flashcards Preview

AS-Level Geography Physical > Components Of The Drainage Basin > Flashcards

Flashcards in Components Of The Drainage Basin Deck (20)
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1
Q

What is interception?

A

Precipitation caught by vegetation and held there for a time.

Interception’s theme: Notorious B.I.G.’s mo vegetation, mo interception.

2
Q

What is infiltration?

A

Water enters the soil from the surface store

3
Q

What is surface runoff?

A

Water flows over the surface post-rainstorm due to saturation or the infiltration capacity is exceeded, or in impermeable urban areas.

4
Q

What is saturation?

A

When the soil store is full and no more water can fit into it

5
Q

What is infiltration capacity?

A

The maximum rate at which water can infiltrate into the soil.

6
Q

What is the soil store?

A

Water infiltrated is stored in soil until it is drained by through flow or percolation.

7
Q

What is through flow?

A

Water moving towards the river through soil

8
Q

What is percolation?

A

Water moving into the groundwater store from the soil layer.

9
Q

What is the groundwater store?

A

Permanent store of water in the bedrock/lower layers of the soil.

10
Q

What is the groundwater flow?

A

Water moving towards the river from the groundwater store.

11
Q

What is evapotranspiration?

A

Water changed into water vapour from stores on surface, vegetation and water vapour taken from plants into the atmosphere.

12
Q

What is a open system?

A

A system in which there are inputs and outputs of both energy AND matter across system boundaries.

13
Q

What are the inputs and outputs of the drainage basin system?

A

Water, heat and KPE

Discharge, sediment, Heat and KPE

14
Q

How can vegetation affect transfers and stores?

A

Thick vegetation = more interception more evaporation, less infiltration

15
Q

How does soil type affect stores and transfers?

A

Clay soils= smaller pores, greater number means less porosity and lower infiltration.
Sandy soils = bigger pores in smaller number, free draining soil and high infiltration
Loam soils= combo of sand silt and clay

16
Q

How do seasons affect transfers and stores of matter in a drainage basin?

A

Summer (warm)= more evaporation, hard baked soil reduces infiltration
Autumn (mild)= less leaves, less interception
Winter (cold)= frozen soils reduce infiltration

17
Q

How can urban areas affect transfers and stores of matter?

A

Less vegetation means less interception

Less infiltration due to impermeable surfaces

18
Q

How can relief affect stores and transfers of matter?

A

Steeper drainage basins, less infiltration meaning more surface runoff
In lowland areas more infiltration occurs and water remains in soil store for longer.

19
Q

How can rain intensity affect transfers and stores of matter?

A

During storms rain falls at faster rate than the soil infiltration capacity. Surface runoff occurs as a result.

20
Q

What is precipitation?

A

Precipitation is an input in water cycle. It is water ( can be different forms) falling from the clouds.