Lecture on River Systems and the Hydrologic Cycle 16

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms related to river systems and the hydrologic cycle, aiding in the understanding of geological processes.

Hydrologic Cycle

The continuous movement of water among Earth’s spheres, including hydrosphere, atmosphere, geosphere, and biosphere.

Infiltration

The process of water soaking into the ground.

Runoff

Water that flows over the ground when rainfall exceeds the ground’s ability to absorb it.

Evaporation

The process where liquid water enters the atmosphere as water vapor.

Turbulent Flow

Water movement characterized by erratic motion and both horizontal and vertical movement.

Drainage Basin

An area of land that a stream drains, often delineated by an imaginary line called a divide.

Discharge

The volume of water flowing past a specific point in a given unit of time.

Sediment Transport

The movement of solid particles within a stream, which can occur as a dissolved load, suspended load, or bed load.

Alluvium

Any sediment deposited by a river.

Floodplain

The flat area adjacent to a stream that is subject to flooding during periods of high discharge.