Studied by 8 people
hydrologic cycle
the unending circulation of Earth’s water supply. The cycle is powered by energy from the sun and is characterized by continuous exchanges of water among the oceans, the atmosphere, and the continents
evaporation
the process of converting a liquid to a gas; how water enters the atmosphere from the ocean
infiltration
movement of surface water into rock or soil through cracks and pore spaces
runoff
water that flows over the land rather than infiltrating into the ground; the rate of rainfall exceeds the ground’s ability to absorb it
transpiration
the release of water vapor to the atmosphere by plants
evapotranspiration
the combined effect of evaporation and transpiration
drainage basin
the land area that contributes water to a stream; aka watershed
divide
imaginary line that separates the drainage of two streams; often found along a ridge
headward erosion
the extension upslope of the head f a valley due to erosion
dendritic pattern
stream system that resembles the pattern of a branching tree; relatively uniform underlying material means that the pattern is determined by slope direction of land
radial pattern
stream system running in all directions away from a central elevated structure such as a volcano
rectangular pattern
drainage pattern characterized by numerous right-angle bends that develops on jointed or fractured bedrock
trellis pattern
system of streams in which nearly parallel tributaries occupy valley scut in folded strata
laminar flow
the movement of water particles in straight-line paths that are parallel to the channel. The water particles move downstream, without mixing
turbulent flow
movement of water in an erratic fashion, often characterized by swirling, whirpool-like eddies. Most streamflow is of this type
gradient
the slope of a stream; generally measured in feet per mile
discharge
the quantity of water in a stream that passes a given point in a period of time
longitudinal profile
cross section of a stream channel along its descending course from the head to the mouth
pothole
circular depression in a bedrock stream channel created by the abrasive “drill-like” action of particles swirling in fast-moving eddies
dissolved load
the portion of a stream’s load that is carried in solution
suspended load
the fine sediment carried within the body of flowing water
bed load
sediment that is carried y a stream along the bottom of its channel
settling velocity
the speed at which a particle falls through a still fluid. the size, shape, and specific gravity of particles influence settling velocity
saltation
transportation of sediment through a series of leaps or bounces
capacity
the total amount of sediment a stream is able to transport
competence
measure of the largest particle a stream can transport; a factor that is dependent on velocity
sorting
the process by which solid particles of various sizes are separated by moving water or wind
alluvium
unconsolidated sediment deposited by a stream
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Flashcard (53)