Precipitation and Hydrologic Cycle Quiz

Precipitation is any form of water that falls from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface.

Drizzle is the lightest form of rain, with tiny water droplets smaller than a grain of rice.

Rain is precipitation consisting of water droplets larger than 0.5 mm.

Snow is precipitation formed by ice crystals that stick together and fall as snowflakes.

Rain classified as light rain has an intensity of less than 2.5 mm per hour.

Rain classified as moderate rain has an intensity of between 2.5 - 7.5 mm per hour.

Rain classified as heavy rain has an intensity of more than 7.5 mm per hour.

Caused by the rising of warm, less dense air, this type of precipitation is characterized by localized thunderstorms, often with destructive winds.

Occurs when colliding air masses of different temperatures and densities cause condensation and precipitation at their point of contact.

A boundary where two air masses meet, often causing condensation and precipitation.

A cold air mass pushing out a warm air mass, resulting in rapid and intense precipitation over a smaller area.

A warm air mass replacing a retreating cold air mass, leading to less intense precipitation spread over a larger area.

A front where two air masses are drawn towards a low-pressure area, creating a stationary boundary. The precipitation is relatively stationary and can last for a long time.

Occurs when a cold front overtakes a warm front. The resulting front is called an occluded front and can lead to complex weather patterns and precipitation.

A type of frontal precipitation that results from the merging of a cold front and a warm front.

A statistical method used to smooth out fluctuations in a time series, revealing underlying trends.

The range of data points used to calculate each average in a moving average.

The number of data points included in each moving average calculation.

A type of moving average where the average is placed in the middle of the window.

A visual representation of data where each value is represented by a bar.

The year in which the annual rainfall is less than 20% of the average rainfall.

The year in which the annual rainfall exceeds the average rainfall.

The average of annual rainfall calculated over a specific period.

The process of identifying specific years based on their rainfall compared to the mean.

A visual representation of the three-year moving average of annual rainfall.

The time it takes for water to start accumulating on the soil surface after rainfall begins.

The maximum rate at which water can infiltrate into the soil at a given time.

The amount of water that has infiltrated into the soil up to a given time.

The movement of water across the soil surface after it has become saturated.

The difference between the initial and final moisture content of the soil.

The pressure difference across the wetting front, the boundary between wet and dry soil.

The rate at which water infiltrates into the soil at a given time.

The relationship between infiltration rate and cumulative infiltration, described by an equation that incorporates the soil properties.

The cumulative amount of water that has infiltrated into the soil at the moment ponding occurs. It's calculated by multiplying the rainfall intensity by the ponding time.

A parameter that represents the rate at which water infiltrates into the soil at saturation, meaning the soil is fully wet.

A model used to predict infiltration based on the soil's hydraulic conductivity and the difference in matric potential between the soil and the rainfall event. Useful for understanding how quickly water infiltrates different soils.

The difference in water content between the soil's saturation point and its initial effective saturation, representing the available space for water infiltration.

The parameter 'K' used in the Green-Ampt equation, representing the hydraulic conductivity of the soil, which essentially determines how easily water can flow through the soil.

The initial water content within the soil, measured as a percentage of the soil's total porosity, which represents the water already present in the soil before the rainfall event.

Describes how infiltration capacity decreases over time, starting at an initial high value and eventually reaching a steady-state value. Expressed as an exponential decay function.

Represents the initial infiltration capacity at the start of rainfall (when t=0).

Represents the steady-state infiltration capacity that is reached after some time (t=tc).

The rate of infiltration at any time (t) during the rainfall event.

Represents the time it takes for the infiltration capacity to reach the steady-state value (fc)

The rate at which the infiltration capacity decreases over time. It depends on soil type and vegetation cover.

A two-term model describing infiltration capacity as a function of time, using 's' (sorptivity) and 'K' (hydraulic conductivity).

A measure of a soil’s ability to absorb water rapidly, driven by suction forces in the soil.

A measure of how easily water moves through the soil under gravity, represented by Darcy’s law.

A model for infiltration capacity based on Darcy's law and considers how the water content of the soil changes (∆𝜃) as it infiltrates.

The difference between the initial and final moisture content of the soil, affected by the initial effective saturation (Se) and the effective saturation after infiltration.

Capillary suction at the wetting front of the infilitrating water. It represents the force pulling water into the soil.

Darcy's hydraulic conductivity, a measure of how easily water flows through the soil.

The time it takes for ponding to occur, when rainfall intensity is greater than the infiltration capacity.

Water accumulates on the soil surface as the rainfall intensity exceeds the soil's ability to absorb it.