(1.3.1) Physical Processes affecting stores and flows

What is the drainage basin?

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

What is the watershed?

An area or ridge of land that separates waters flowing to different rivers, basins or seas.

(e.g. a mountain would separate basins because water would either go on way or the other)

Are drainage basins open or closed systems? What does that mean?

Open, meaning we can interfere with it.

Define inputs in the context of drainage basins.

The additions of water to a drainage basin through precipitation.

Define outputs in the context of drainage basins.

The losses of water from a drainage basin either to the sea or through evapotranspiration.

What is evapotranspiration?

A combination of evaporation and transpiration

Define storage in the context of drainage basins.

Places where the water is held on the surface or in the soil and rocks

Define flow in the context of drainage basins.

The processes by which water is transferred and moves through the system.

Detail the process of inputs into the drainage basin.

When rain falls into the area encompassed by the drainage basin, it is referred to as an input.

List the stores in the system.

Interception by vegetation

Surface storage

Soil moisture

Groundwater

What is interception by vegetation?

The rainfall is caught by leaves etc. and either evaporated or dripping to the ground.

Occurs most in summer, when there are more leaves on trees.

What is surface storage?

When water reaches the ground, it may form pools which is a form of surface storage.

What is soil moisture (storage)?

Water in the pores of soil

What is groundwater store?

The store of water in aquifers (permeable water-bearing rock/sediment)

List the flows.

Drip-flow

Surface run-off

Infiltration

Throughflow

Percolation

Groundwater flow

What is drip-flow?

The flow of rainwater from the plant leaves to the ground after interception

What is surface-run off?

A fast-moving flow of rainwater across the ground surface when it can no longer infiltrate the soil due to the soil’s absorption capacity being exceeded.

What is infiltration?

The process by which water moves from the surface into the soil layer

What is throughflow?

The downhill flow of water through soil.

What is percolation?

The movement of water from the soil into the pores in the bedrock.

What is groundwater flow?

The flow of water through rocks.

List + describe the outputs of the system.

Transpiration- during interception

Evaporation- during surface run-off and from rivers

River carrying water to ocean/sea- final output