Drainage Basin System - Key Terms

What is a drainage basin?

The area of land drained by a river and its tributaries.

What is a watershed?

The boundary separating one drainage basin from another.

What is a river channel?

The route through which a river flows.

What is a tributary?

A smaller river that joins a larger river.

What is a confluence?

The point where two rivers meet.

What is the source of a river?

The place where a river begins.

What is the mouth of a river?

The point where a river enters a sea

What is a drainage divide?

Another name for a watershed.

What is a catchment area?

Another term for a drainage basin.

What is an open system?

A system with inputs and outputs of energy and matter.

Why is a drainage basin an open system?

Water enters and leaves the system continuously.

What is a store in a drainage basin?

A location where water is held temporarily.

What is a transfer in a drainage basin?

The movement of water between stores.