Water and Carbon Cycles- The Drainage Basin Flashcards Preview

A Level Physical Geography > Water and Carbon Cycles- The Drainage Basin > Flashcards

Flashcards in Water and Carbon Cycles- The Drainage Basin Deck (36)
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1
Q

Precipitation definition

A

Rain, snow, hail and sleet

2
Q

Infiltration definition

A

When water enters the ground

3
Q

Interception definition

A

When water is caught by trees and plants

4
Q

Stem flow definition

A

Water lands on plants and runs down their stems

5
Q

Overland flow definition

A

Anywhere water flows over the land surface

6
Q

Through flow definition

A

When water flows through the ground

7
Q

Transpiration definition

A

When water vapour comes out of leaves

8
Q

Evapotranspiration definition

A

Water rises as vapour from the ground or released from leaves

9
Q

Ground water definition

A

Water deep in the ground

10
Q

Soil water definition

A

Water held between soil particles

11
Q

Ground water flow definition

A

The slow movement of water through the ground

12
Q

Percolation definition

A

Movement of water down through the ground

13
Q

Surface storage definition

A

Lakes, ponds and puddles

14
Q

Ground water storage definition

A

Water stored underground in bed rock

15
Q

What is the drainage basin?

A

The area of land surrounding a river, from which the river remains cornices water and subsequently drains this water

16
Q

Movement of water through the drainage basin (quickest to slowest)

A
  • fastest movement of water occurs along the surface (especially urban areas)
  • relatively free movement in woodland as there are many channels created by roots
  • water moves through soil at a slower rate
  • below the soil the rate of transfer slows considerably
17
Q

What is the water balance?

A

The difference between the inputs and outputs (and the subsequent change in storage) in the drainage basin

18
Q

How does a positive water balance occur?

A

If precipitation exceeds run off and evapotranspiration there will be a positive water balance

19
Q

How does a negative water balance occur?

A

If run off and evapotranspiration exceeds precipitation, there will be a negative water balance

20
Q

Water balance equation

A

P=Q+E+/-change in storage

P= precipitation 
Q= total runoff 
E= evapotranspiration
21
Q

What is the soil moisture budget?

A

The change in the amount of water stored in the soil throughout the year

22
Q

Potential evapotranspiration definition

A

The amount of evapotranspiration that could occur if there was sufficient water available in the system

23
Q

What is the river regime

A

The variability in the rivers discharge throughout the course of the year in response to precipitation, temperature, evapotranspiration and drainage basin characteristics

24
Q

What is climatic variation?

A

-changes in seasonal temperature mean evapotranspiration losses are heavily concentrated in the summer

25
Q

What is a hydrograph?

A

A graph of river discharge against time

26
Q

Role of climatic factor in the variation of global water stores

A
  • cryospheric (ice) stores decrease as a result of global temperature increase
  • ice sheets on land melting cause an increase in water stores
  • an increase in temp. increases the rate of evapotranspiration
  • decrease in temp. reduces oceanic water store as water freezes on the land
  • this increases cryospheric stores
27
Q

Storm hydrograph- peak rainfall

A

The highest level of rainfall that the rainstorm reached

28
Q

Storm hydrograph- peak discharge

A

The highest level of discharge in the river during the rainstorm

29
Q

Storm hydrograph- lag time

A

The time taken from the peak rainfall to the peak discharge

30
Q

Storm hydrograph- rising limb

A

How quickly a river responds to a storm

31
Q

Storm hydrograph- falling limb

A

Discharge decreasing after a storm event

32
Q

Storm hydrograph- base flow

A

The lowest amount of discharge in the river basin

33
Q

Storm hydrograph- storm runoff

A

The amount of water that runs off during a storm

34
Q

Natural causes of flooding in Pickering Beck

A
  • steel sided valley that water runs off into the beck
  • discharge averages 29.9 cumecs- higher than average
  • geology of gritstone and limestone and soft sand- ground becomes quickly saturated and water has to travel as surface run off
35
Q

Human causes of flooding in Pickering Beck

A
  • overgrazing
  • urbanisation has led to increase in impermeable surfaces
  • A170 runs directly through Pickering- one of the main areas to flood
36
Q

Land management strategies in Pickering Beck

A
  • large low level embankment is being built to create additional flood storage capacity
  • floodplain woodland can form a barrier to flood flows (19 ha planted in Pickering Beck so far)
  • small scale planting by local residents can help protect areas at risk of high percentage of surface runoff