Discharge of Rivers

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  • Created by: Max Oscar
  • Created on: 29-03-22 19:33
What is discharge?
The volume of water flowing through a river channel at a specific time
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How is discharge calculated?
Width x Depth x Velocity
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Why would discharge increase?
- Meltwater
- Heavy rainfall
- Tributaries
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Why might discharge sometimes increase quickly?
- Impermeable surface (e.g. granite)
- Saturated ground
- Heavy prolonged rain
- Clay soil
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Why might discharge sometimes increase slowly?
- Trees in River Basin
- Permeable surface (e.g. limestone, sandstone)
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How does human activity affect the amount of discharge & how quickly or slowly it occurs?
- Deforestation
- Building on floodplains
- Channelisation
- Soft engineering
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What are the factors that affect the discharge & drainage basin?
- Evaporation
- Evapotranspiration
- Interception
- Soil water
- Soil type
- Groundwater
- Infiltration
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What is soil water?
Is the water stored in soil
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How does evaporation affect the discharge & drainage basin?
INCREASE in Evaporation = LESS water in a drainage basin
DECREASE in Evaporation = MORE water in a drainage basin
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How does evapotranspiration affect the discharge & drainage basin?
INCREASE in Evapotranspiration = LESS water in a drainage basin
DECREASE in Evapotranspiration = MORE water in a drainage basin
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How does interception affect the discharge & drainage basin?
MORE Interception = LESS water in the drainage basin
LESS Interception = MORE water in the drainage basin
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How does soil water affect the discharge & drainage basin?
In the winter rain is heavier, temperatures are low & evapotranspiration is low therefore much water is stored in soil (soil water)

In the summer rain is less, temperatures are higher & evapotranspiration it's higher therefore less water is stored
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How does soil type affect the discharge & drainage basin?
Soils that store water are deep & porous therefore more water is held in the drainage basin

Soils that have small pore spaces, are impermeable (don't let water in) & shallow, do not keep water as well therefore water stays in the drainage basin
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How does groundwater affect the discharge & drainage basin?
- Rainfall/precipitation increases groundwater
- Evaporation e.g drought decreases groundwater
- Concrete & tarmac surfaces decrease groundwater
MORE groundwater = MORE water in the drainage basin
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How does infiltration affect the discharge & drainage basin?
Infiltration of water into the soil = less surface runoff
More infiltration = less surface runoff
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

How is discharge calculated?

Back

Width x Depth x Velocity

Card 3

Front

Why would discharge increase?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Why might discharge sometimes increase quickly?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Why might discharge sometimes increase slowly?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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