Channel Networks and Inland Seas

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What are the physical factors that can affect overland flow or run off?

Rock type and relief

What are the built-up areas of towns and cities referred to as?

Urban areas

What is the term for the amount of water carried by a river at any one time?

Discharge

What is the dividing line between neighboring drainage basins called?

Watershed Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the variations in river discharge throughout the year?

River regime Signup and view all the answers

What are the two flows that make up the river's discharge during a rainstorm?

Base flow and storm flow Signup and view all the answers

What is the first process in the hydrological cycle?

Evaporation Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the transfer of water in any form from the atmosphere to the land or sea surface?

Precipitation Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the change in the atmosphere when water vapor cools and becomes liquid?

Condensation Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the transfer of water downwards through the soil and rock into the aquifer or groundwater store?

Infiltration and percolation Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the underground transfer of water to rivers, lakes, and the sea?

Groundwater flow Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the transfer of water between the ground surface and the top of the groundwater store?

Throughflow Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between a store and a flow?

A store is a place where water is held, while a flow is the movement of water between different stores or locations. Signup and view all the answers

Which store holds the largest amount of water?

The sea holds the largest amount of water, estimated to be over 95% of the Earth's water. Signup and view all the answers

List the possible physical consequences of melting ice sheets and glaciers.

Possible consequences of melting ice sheets and glaciers include sea-level rise, increased flooding, changes in ocean currents, and loss of habitat for polar animals. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the hydrological cycle a closed system and the drainage basin cycle an open system?

The hydrological cycle is a closed system because the amount of water in the cycle remains constant, with water neither entering nor leaving the Earth and its atmosphere. The drainage basin cycle is an open system because it has external inputs and outputs, with the amount of water in the system varying over time. Signup and view all the answers

Is there an inland sea in the country where you live?

The answer will vary depending on the country. Signup and view all the answers

Why might drainage basins close to one another have different drainage densities?

Drainage basins close to one another may have different drainage densities due to variations in factors such as topography, climate, and vegetation cover. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two main processes involved in shaping landforms?

erosion, transport, and deposition Signup and view all the answers

What is the lag time?

the delay between peak rainfall and peak discharge Signup and view all the answers

What is a storm hydrograph?

a record of the changing discharge of a river after a rainstorm Signup and view all the answers

What factors affect river regimes and storm hydrographs?

physical weathering, chemical weathering, biological weathering, rainfall, lag time, and human intervention Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a storm hydrograph?

to assess the risk of flooding and determine the area at risk Signup and view all the answers

What are the highest discharges in the River Thames generally occur?

in winter, in February and March Signup and view all the answers

What is mass movement?

Mass movement is the movement of weathered material down a slope under the influence of gravity. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two main types of mass movement in river valleys?

The two main types of mass movement in river valleys are slumping and soil creep. Signup and view all the answers

What causes slumping in river valleys?

Slumping in river valleys is caused when the bottom of a valley side slope is cut away by the river flowing at its base, making the slope unstable and causing weathered material to slump down towards the river. Signup and view all the answers

What is the process of attrition in river erosion?

Attrition is the process of particles of material being carried by a river becoming rounder and smaller as they collide with each other. Signup and view all the answers

What is deposition in relation to rivers?

Deposition is the laying down of material transported by the river. It occurs when there is a decrease in the energy, speed, and discharge of the river. Signup and view all the answers

How does the long profile of a river change downstream?

The long profile of a river changes downstream by becoming wider, deeper, and smoother. Discharge and average velocity also increase downstream, as does the amount of load being transported. Signup and view all the answers