Catchment Hydrology: Drainage Basins

The rate at which water penetrates into the soil.

Water flowing sideways through the soil, through interconnected spaces like pores, fissures, and root channels.

The downward movement of water from the soil into the underlying rock.

The movement of water within the ground, driven by gravity and pressure.

The proportion of empty spaces (pores) in a rock compared to its total volume.

The ability of a rock to allow water to flow through it.

The level below which the ground is saturated with water.

The rapid movement of water over the land surface.

Overland flow caused by prolonged rainfall saturating the soil, making further infiltration impossible.

Overland flow happening when rainfall intensity exceeds the soil's ability to absorb water.

A type of overland flow common in arid regions with hard, baked soil.

Deep channels formed by flash floods in arid regions.

Overland flow that begins in one area and expands to cover more ground as a storm progresses.

The process of water soaking into the ground.

The area of land that drains into a particular river or stream. It's like a giant bathtub where all the water flows down to one outlet.

The boundary line that separates two drainage basins. It's like a wall that keeps the water from flowing to the wrong river.

Water falling directly onto vegetation and flowing down its stems and trunks to the ground.

Water dripping from leaves and branches to the ground.

Short but intense rainfall, often leading to rapid flooding. Think of a sudden burst of water.

A system where inputs, stores, and outputs of water interact. Imagine a cycle where water enters, is stored, and leaves the system.

The amount of rainfall happening in a specific period of time. It's like measuring how much rain is falling in an hour or a day.

The area at the bottom of a slope that becomes saturated first during a storm due to both direct rainfall and throughflow from higher areas.

The amount of water that is intercepted by vegetation before it reaches the ground. It varies with the type and density of vegetation, storm duration, and season.

The temporary storage of water on the surface of the ground in depressions and hollows.

The water held in the soil's pores, representing a major storage component in drainage basins.

The water stored within the river channel itself at any given moment.

Water stored in rock and underground deposits, often beneath the soil.

The process where liquid water changes into water vapor and enters the atmosphere.

The process where plants release water vapor into the atmosphere through tiny openings called stomata.

The combined effect of evaporation from water surfaces and transpiration by plants.

The volume of water flowing in a river at a specific point and time, usually measured in cubic meters per second.

The amount of water leaving a drainage basin through evaporation, transpiration, and channel flow.

Leaves that have a pointed tip, allowing rainwater to run off quickly, reducing the risk of fungal growth and damage. Common in tropical rainforests.

Branches that slope downwards, allowing snow to slide off easily. This prevents branches from breaking under the weight of snow. Common in high-latitude coniferous forests.

Water held in the soil in extremely thin films around soil particles. Not available for plants to use.

Water held in slightly larger spaces in the soil, held against gravity by surface tension. Available for plants to use.

Water that fills all the large spaces in the soil and drains away quickly after rain. Not available for plants to use.

The maximum amount of water that can be held in a soil after excess water has drained away. It's important for plant health.

The point at which there is not enough water in the soil for plants to survive. They start to wilt.