Inputs, Outputs and Stores

What is the main input in a drainage basin?

Precipitation.

What is precipitation?

Water falling from the atmosphere as rain

What are the main outputs from a drainage basin?

Evaporation

What is evaporation?

The process by which liquid water changes into water vapour.

What is transpiration?

The loss of water vapour from plants.

What is evapotranspiration?

The combined loss of water through evaporation and transpiration.

What is river discharge?

The volume of water flowing in a river per second.

What units are used to measure discharge?

Cubic metres per second (cumecs).

What is a surface storage?

Water stored on the ground surface.

What is interception storage?

Water temporarily stored on vegetation.

What is soil moisture storage?

Water held within the soil.

What is groundwater storage?

Water stored beneath the ground in rocks and soil.

What is channel storage?

Water stored within the river channel.

What is vegetation storage?

Water held within plants.