Water cycle - Key words

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  • Created by: laurace_
  • Created on: 27-05-18 22:09
Catchment
The area of land drained by a river and its tributaries (drainage basin)
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Watershed
The highland which devised and separates water flowing into different rivers (the edge of the basin)
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Orthographic (relief) Rainfall
when precipitation is cause due to water vapour rising as it reaches mountain ranges, where it cools into denser cloud that rains on the windward side of the mountain
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Frontal
occurs when two masses of air meet, one cold and one hot, due to different densities the hot air rises above but then cools and condenses to cause precipitation
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Convectional rainfall
The sun warms the ground, heating moisture that rises up, then cools and condenses again to fall as precipitation to the ground. This causes convention currents which makes the air unstable and creates friction which leads to thunder and lighting
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Infiltration
the process by which water is absorbed and enters the soil
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Interception
water is prevented by reaching the soil by vegetation's leaves and roots
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Transpiration
The process by which plants lose water vapour through pores which is evaporated back into the atmosphere
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Surface storage
Water stored on the ground's surface
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Evaporation
Process in which water changes from a liquid to a gas
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Groundwater flow
Downward movement of water through the rocks (lower than through flow)
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Percolation
The process by which water moves downwards through cracks, joints and pores between the soil and rocks
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Overland flow (surface run-off)
water from precipitation moving across the ground surface
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Stream/channel flow
Water transported through a stream or river channel
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Throughfall
Water that reaches the soil through vegetation, not straight from precipitation
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Precipitation
Deposition of water on the earth's surface
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Soil water
where water is held in the soil
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Groundwater
water in the pores and cavities in the soil/rocks
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Throughflow
The down-slope movement of water through the soil (above groundwater flow)
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Albedo
The amount of sunlight reflected back into the atmosphere by a surface
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Stores
stock of water where the water is held e.g ocean
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fluxes
measurement of the rate of flow between stores of water
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Processes
The physical factors which drive the fluxes between stores e.g evaporation or precipitation
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Resident times
the average period a water molecule is retained for in a store e.g. 3,600 years in the oceans
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Systems approach
Studying the hydrological cycle by looking at the balance between inputs and outputs, and how water is moved by stores and flows
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Cryoshpere
Areas of the earth where water is frozen as snow or ice
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Blue water
water in river, lakes and groundwater in liquid form
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Green water
water stored in the soil and vegitation
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Fossil water
Ancient, deep groundwater from former wet periods
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River regime
The annual variation in discharge of a river at a particular point (measured in cumecs)
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Water balance/budget
Precipitation = Stream flow + Evaporation +/- changes in stores
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Field capacity
Amount of soil moisture held after excess water has drained away. remains constant because the soil type can only hold a certain amount of water
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Confluence
where two rivers meet to form one
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Potential evapotranspiration
all the water that could enter the air through vegetation and evaporation if present
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Drought
an extended period (season,year or several years) deficient in rainfall relative to the statistical multi-year average for a region
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Agricultural drought
caused by over irrigation or overgrazing, will have knock on effects of reduced soil moisture and plant growth, causing poor crop yields.
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Famine drought
As populations grow and become wealthier their water demand increases and variations in climate can create decline as stores aren't replenished. Widespread failure of agricultural systems causing food shortages to escalate into famine.
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Meteorological drought
Lack of precipitation due to variability (short or long term) which increase dry period. often combined with high temps, winds, sunshine and low humidity, increases evaporation = more drought
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Hydrological drought
reduces stream flow and groundwater levels which decrease from less precipitation and more evaporation, reducing stores. major threat to wetlands and wildlife, also some human water-uses restriction
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Palmer drought severity index (PDSI)
looks at the duration and intensity of large scale atmospheric conditions associated with drought. (long term)
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Crop moisture index (CMI)
used by farmers during growing season to monitor short-term dry conditions on a weekly basis.
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Palmer hydrological drought index (PHDI)
looks at impact of dry conditions on local hydrological systems, which resposnds slower to drought than a large scale one, therefore uses a separate index.
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High pressure
Air being pushes down (cool, dry - lack of precipitation)
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Low pressure
Air being sucked up (warm, damp - precipitation)
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approach segment
on a storm hydrograph - the discharge of a river before it rains
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Rising limb
A rapid increase in rainwater reaching the river ( increasing discharge)
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Lag time
The time between the peak rainfall and peak discharge, when the water is making its way to the river
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Falling Limb
When the rainfall reaching the river starts coming at a slower rate
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Bankful discharge
The point at which the river will flood
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Groundwater flooding
Flooding that occurs after the ground has become saturated from prolonged, heavy rainfall.
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Surface water flooding
Flooding that occurs when intense rainfall doesn't have time to infiltrate the soil so runs along the surface
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Flash flooding
A flood with a really short lag time, often just minutes or hours
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flashy river
short lag time and high peak discharge
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Flat river
longer lag time and long peak discharge
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Drainage density
Number of streams and tributaries in the drainage basin (more = shorter lag time)
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Water stress
If a county's water consumption exceeds 10% of its renewable freshwater supply when there is less than 1700 m3 per person per year
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Economic scarcity
When people can't afford water even though it is physically available
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water scarcity
when there are insufficient water supplies to meet demand
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Physical scarcity
Imbalance between demand and supply when the amount available falls bellow 1000 m3 per person per year
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Water insecurity
the broader term that covers all forms of water scarcity and stress, where present and future supplies are not guaranteed
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Availability
Having a water supply and distribution network
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Access
freedom of use and/or income to buy in a particular location
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Usage
Entitlement and understanding of water use and health issues
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Integrated Drainage basin management
Aims to establish a framework of coordination where everyone evolved in a river basin work together to develop policies and strategies.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Watershed

Back

The highland which devised and separates water flowing into different rivers (the edge of the basin)

Card 3

Front

Orthographic (relief) Rainfall

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Frontal

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Convectional rainfall

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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