10 Questions
Which term is commonly used in North America to refer to a drainage basin?
Watershed
What is the perimeter separating a basin from adjacent basins called?
Drainage divide
What is the term used for smaller basins that merge at river confluences in a drainage basin?
Hierarchical pattern
What is the term for a closed drainage basin where water converges toward the interior of the basin instead of flowing to the ocean?
Endorheic basin
What is the common task in environmental engineering and science used to determine a drainage basin's boundaries?
Watershed delineation
True or false: A drainage basin is an area of land where all flowing surface water converges to multiple points.
False
True or false: A basin is separated from adjacent basins by a perimeter called watershed delineation.
False
True or false: In North America, a drainage basin is commonly referred to as a catchment area.
True
True or false: In a closed drainage basin, water flows towards the ocean.
False
True or false: Watershed is used only in its original sense, that of a drainage divide.
True
Study Notes
Drainage Basin Characteristics
- A drainage basin is an area of land where all flowing surface water converges to a single point, such as a river mouth, or flows into another body of water.
- A basin is separated from adjacent basins by a perimeter, known as the drainage divide, made up of elevated features like ridges and hills.
Terminology
- Other terms for a drainage basin include catchment area, catchment basin, drainage area, river basin, water basin, and impluvium.
- In North America, a drainage basin is commonly referred to as a watershed.
Boundary Determination
- A drainage basin's boundaries are determined by watershed delineation, a crucial task in environmental engineering and science.
Types of Drainage Basins
- A closed drainage basin, or endorheic basin, is where water converges toward the interior of the basin rather than flowing to the ocean.
Test your knowledge about drainage basins and their features with this informative quiz. Learn about the importance of drainage divides, river confluences, and the role of basins in the water cycle. Challenge yourself and become an expert in understanding the dynamics of water flow in different landscapes.
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