Water Resources

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to water resources, the hydrologic cycle, and drought as discussed in the lecture.

Hydrologic Cycle

The cycle of water circulation through the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere, driven by evaporation and precipitation.

Evapotranspiration (ET)

The total loss of water from land or water surfaces to the atmosphere through evaporation and transpiration from plants.

Actual Evapotranspiration (ACTET)

The actual amount of water that evaporates and transpires under existing conditions.

Potential Evapotranspiration (POTET)

The maximum amount of water that would evaporate/transpire under optimal moisture conditions.

Precipitation (PRECIP)

The total amount of water, in any form, that falls from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface.

Water Budget

A quantitative representation of the inputs, outputs, and storage of water within a specific area.

Drought

A prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall relative to the historical average, leading to water supply shortages.

Groundwater

Water that is stored underground in aquifers and constitutes a significant portion of Earth's freshwater resources.

Infiltration

The process by which water on the ground surface enters the soil.

Percolation

The downward movement of water through soil and rock layers, which recharges groundwater.

Aquifer

A geological formation that can store and transmit groundwater, typically composed of permeable rock or unconsolidated materials.

Moisture Balance

The relationship between water inputs (like precipitation) and outputs (like evaporation and runoff) in a given area.

Soil Moisture Deficit

A condition where the moisture available in the soil is less than what is needed for plants to thrive.

Soil Moisture Surplus

The condition when precipitation exceeds evapotranspiration, leading to excess soil moisture.

Climate Normals

Long-term average weather patterns used for comparison to assess current climate conditions and anomalies.

Advection

The transfer of heat or moisture through the horizontal movement of air.

Field Capacity

The amount of soil moisture or water content held in the soil after excess water has drained away.

Wilting Point

The soil moisture level at which plants can no longer extract water, leading them to wilt.

U.S. Drought Monitor

A weekly publication that tracks drought conditions, providing information about its severity and impact across the United States.