Reservoirs and Their Environmental Impacts | AQA A-Level Environmental Science Revision | Primrose Kitten

Reservoir

A large body of water with a dam, used for storing water for public use.

Dam

A barrier built across a river to create a reservoir and control water flow.

Precipitation rate

The amount of water that falls as rain, snow, etc., in a specific area over time.

Topography

The shape and features of the land surface, including natural and man-made features. E.g. valleys

Why should an aquifer be built somewhere with a stable geology?

Low risk of earthquakes if away from fault lines

Why does a reservoir bedrock need to be impermeable

Doesn't allow water to infiltrate into the ground and leave the reservoir

Catchment area

The area where rainfall flows into a river, lake, or reservoir.

Evaporation rate

The rate at which water turns into vapor and escapes into the atmosphere. Controlled by sunlight.

Infrastructure

The physical and organizational structures and facilities needed for society or enterprise operation.

Pollution

The introduction of harmful or poisonous substances into the environment.

Sedimentation

The process of settling or being deposited as sediment in still water bodies.

High specific heat capacity of water

It takes a large amount of heat energy to raise the temperature of water.

Microclimates

Small areas with slightly different climate from the surrounding area.

Salmon cannons

Devices used to transport migratory species, such as salmon, over dams to continue their migration route without injuries.

Trophic cascades

The ecological phenomenon triggered by the addition or removal of top predators, involving reciprocal changes in predator and prey populations through a food chain.

Ramsar sites

Protected wetland areas designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.