Global River Systems and Hydrology

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms related to global river systems, hydrology, and flooding.

Stream Discharge

The streamflow volume passing a point in a given unit of time.

Hydrograph

A plot of discharge over time in response to precipitation.

Watershed

A central hydrological unit also known as a drainage basin.

Runoff

The part of precipitation that flows over the land surface and reaches rivers.

Floodplain

Land that is inundated when water level exceeds channel banks, important for nutrient delivery.

Cubic Length/Time

The units of discharge, often expressed as m³/s.

Recurrence Interval (R)

The average interval of time between floods of a certain size; calculated as R = 1/P.

Natural Flood Causes

Includes regional precipitation events, flash floods, ice jam, and dam failure.

Drainage Network Patterns

Alignment of streams where smaller streams join larger ones, often forming dendritic patterns.

Overland Flow

Water that flows over the land surface into streams, contributing to streamflow.