Water Stores and Drainage Basins Flashcards

Flashcards reviewing key vocabulary and concepts related to water storage on Earth, factors influencing water store magnitudes, and the role of drainage basins.

Hydrosphere

All water on planet Earth.

Oceanic Water

The largest store of water on Earth, accounting for 97% of the Earth's total water.

Cryospheric Water

Water stored on Earth in solid form (ice), including sea ice, permafrost, ice caps, ice sheets, and glaciers.

Terrestrial Water

Freshwater on Earth, including surface water (rivers, lakes), groundwater, soil water, and biological water.

Atmospheric Water

Water held in the atmosphere in solid, liquid, or gaseous (water vapor) states; acts as a greenhouse gas.

Evaporation

The process of water turning from its liquid state to its gaseous state.

Condensation

The process of water turning from its gaseous state to its liquid state; the main form of precipitation (rain).

Drainage Basin

An area of land drained by a river and its tributaries.

Watershed

The border around a drainage basin.

Interception

When trees and plants collect water, for example, like on their leaves, and this water is going to get trapped in the vegetation.

Stem Flow

Water trickling down the stems of plants and animals until it reaches the ground.

Surface Runoff

Water flowing across the surface of the ground.

Infiltration

Water moving downwards through the soil.

Through Flow

A faster movement of water through the soil.

Percolation

Water moving down through the rock.

Groundwater Flow/Base Flow

Movement of water through the rock.

Channel Flow

Water flowing within rivers.

Transpiration

Water transpiring or evaporating straight from plants back into the atmosphere.