Geography A level topic 1: Drainage basins

What are rocks that contain a significant quantity of water called?

aquifers

Combined loss of water to the atmosphere through transpiration and evaporation.

evapotranspiration

Sub-surface water is known as..

groundwater

What is baseflow?

groundwater flow that feeds into rivers through river banks and river beds

The study of water as it moves on, through and under the Earths surface is known as:

hydrology

Water that is retained by plant surfaces and later evaporated or absorbed by the plant

interception loss

Name the three main components of interception.

interception loss, throughfall, stemflow

Infiltration is ____ related to runoff

inversely

EXAMPLE: how big is the amazon drainage basin?

nearly 7 000 000 sq km

A drainage basin is an ____ system

open

The conversion and transfer of moisture in the atmosphere to the land- what term does this definition describe?

precipitation

What 5 factors effect evapotranspiration?

temperature, humidity, windspeed, vegetation cover, albedo of surface, available water

What is a drainage basin?

the land drained by a river and its tributaries

What is infiltration capacity?

the maximum rate at which rain can be absorbed by a soil in a given condition

What is the water cycle?

the movement of water between land air and sea.

What is the antecedent soil moisture?

the pre-existing levels of soil moisture

What is potential evapotranspiration?

the water loss that would occur if there was an unlimited supply of water in the soil for use by plants

What is the upper layer of the permanently saturated zone within solid rocks and sediments (the phreatic zone) known as?

the water table

Name 5 characteristics of precipitation that affect local hydrology.

total amount, type, intensity,distribution, temporal variability

The water loss from vegetation to the atmosphere

transpiration

What conditions increase evaporation a transpiration?

warm and dry conditions

EXAMPLE: How many tributaries does the Amazon basin contain?

1100+

EXAMPLE: The Thames drainage basin is densely populated, supporting ___ people

13 million

EXAMPLE: what area does the Thames drainage basin cover?

16 000 sq km

EXAMPLE: what percentage of South America does the Amazon drainage basin cover?

40%

EXAMPLE: it's one of the driest parts of the UK, receiving ___ of rainfall yearly

690mm