water in the lithosphere

stream discharge is related to

velocity and cross sectional area

flooding/runoff

• intense precipitation

• rate of rainfall>infiltration

  • more common in urban environments

where is earth’s water

• oceans 96.5%

• freshwater 2.5%

  • other saline water 0.9%

interception

rain captured by leaves/branches

throughfall

rain that reaches the ground

infiltration

water entering the soil

infiltration capacity

max rate of infiltration

runoff/overland flow

water flowing on surface

percolation

downward flow of water in a soil

field capacity

upper limit of amount of water stored in a soil

rate of rainfall>infiltration rate

runoff and flooding

mountain streams

• steep slopes

• shallow water

  • large amounts of bed friction

downstream segments

• low slope

• deep water

  • small bed friction

stream gradient

slope (rise/run) of a stream

rate of stream flow

velocity (v)

stream cross section area

average depth of stream x width of stream (m²) 

discharge (Q)

volume of flow (m³/sec)

hydrograph: rising limb

increasing flow as water arrives at the stream

crest: hydrograph

maximum flow

hydrograph: recession limb

declining flow as water drains downstream (that is not replenished by rain)

vadose zone

upper zone of water in the ground (typically unsaturated)

groundwater

water storage zone that is saturated + feed permanent bodies of water (lakes/rivers) when it intersects with surface

aquifer

porous permeable layer that can be partially saturated (sandstone/limestone)

unconfined aquifer

intersects with surface as stream or lake

aquiclude

immpermeable layer (shale/mudstone)

confined aquifer

permeable layer that does not interact with surface

artesian well

free-flowing well

spring

stream of flowing water emerging from ground

2 causes of groundwater depletion

• well depletion

  • salt water intrusion

reasons for groundwater usage

• critical in arid locations

  • less biological contaminants

problems with groundwater usage

arsenic exposure