water and erosion

water cycle

movement between the atmosphere, the land, and the oceans

evaporation

water changing from liquid to gaseous phase (water vapor) without boling

Evapotranspiration

evaporation from plant leaves

condensation

change of state from a gas to a liquid; As the vapor becomes cooler some of it condenses back to liquid  high - clouds, low - fog, surface - dew

precipitation

any form of water that falls to earths surface (rain,snow,sleet,hail)

what happens to rest of rain

the rest falls on land and becomes runoff or infiltrates the soil to become groundwater

runoff

rain that falls on the ground and is not absorbed ; moves along the surface until it flows into a stream system and it causes erosion

watershed (AKA BASIN) also is river system

the area of land that is drained by a river system

Divides

The ridges or elevated regions that seperate watersheds and a high point that seperates river systems

river system

A river system is made up of a main stream and tributaries.

river system

a stream and all its tributaries

tributary

a smaller stream that empties into a larger stream

watershed

the land area drained by a river system

divide

gradient

the slope or steepness of a stream or river channel

discharge

the amount off water carried by a body of water per unit in time