Water Exam 1

Q= P-ET+(Gin-Gout)+changeS

Water budget equation

High temperature, high wind, low humidity, high sunlight

4 conditions for high evapotranspiration

Evapotranspiration

Sum of water surface evaporation, soil moisture evaporation, and plant transpiration

Streamflow

Water flowing in the channel of a stream/river

Runoff

Water flow over the whole area of a watershed

Precipitation rate, time after infiltration, moisture of soil, soil type, and vegetation cover

Determinants of infiltation rates

Lotic system

Built around flowing water such as rivers, creeks, and streams

Lentic system

Built around standing water such as lakes and reservoirs

Biodiversity, riparian vegetation, and stable banks

Evidence of a healthy river

Filters contaminants, provides bank stability, provides shade, acts as habitats for organisms

Importance of riparian areas

Riverine zone

Flowing, river-like conditions in a reservoir

Transitional zone

Transition from river to lake conditions in a reservoir

Lacustrine zone

Non-flowing, lake-like conditions in a reservoir