Drainage Basin: Watersheds

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Questions and Answers

What term describes the point where water exits a drainage basin?

Infiltration zone
Ridge line
Sediment trap
Pour point (correct)

Which of the following best describes a watershed?

A structure used to store water for later use
A barrier that prevents water from flowing into a specific area
A deep underground reservoir of groundwater
An area that drains water and other substances to a common outlet (correct)

What is the significance of a ridgeline in the context of watersheds?

It indicates the direction of water flow within the basin.
It is where the pour point is located.
It is the lowest point where water accumulates.
It serves as the boundary between two adjacent drainage basins. (correct)

What happens to a raindrop that falls directly on a ridgeline?

It will roll down one side of the ridgeline. (B) Signup and view all the answers

How are large watersheds typically structured?

They are subdivided into smaller watersheds. (B) Signup and view all the answers

If a watershed encompasses an entire river system, what is it called?

River basin (D) Signup and view all the answers

What do drainage basins, watersheds and catchments all have in common?

They are all terms to describe an area of land that drains water to a common point. (A) Signup and view all the answers

How does water move throughout a watershed?

It drains though to the common outlet, known as the pour point. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true about the pour point of a watershed?

The pour point of a watershed is the lowest point of the area in the drainage basin. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true?

Watersheds come in all shapes and sizes. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Drainage basin / Watershed / Catchment

An area that drains water and other substances to a common outlet.

Pour Point

The common outlet point where water flows out of an area.

Drainage divide / Watershed boundary

The boundary between two drainage basins, defined by the ridgeline.

Pour point location

The lowest point along the boundary of the drainage basin.

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Watershed function

Area where rain collects and runs to a common outlet.

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River Basins

Watersheds that consist of entire rivers is known as.

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Ridgeline Rain Drop

A raindrop falling on the ridgeline will flow down one side.

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Study Notes

A drainage basin, watershed or catchment is an area that drains water and other substances to a common outlet
The common outlet is known as the pour point
A pour point is the point at which water flows out of an area
A pour point is usually the lowest point along the boundary of the drainage basin
Watersheds come in all shapes and sizes
The boundary between two basins is a drainage divide or watershed boundary, defined by the ridgeline
A raindrop that falls on the ridgeline will roll down one side of that ridgeline
All the rain that falls and collects in the watershed runs to the common outlet (pour point) at the bottom of the watershed, where it flows into another watershed
Large watersheds can be subdivided into smaller watersheds
Watersheds that consist of entire rivers are called river basins
The Upper Kotmale watershed, Upper Rantambe watershed, and Mahaweli River basin are examples of watersheds and river basins in shown on the map of Sri Lanka