Understanding Drainage Basins and Water Flow

Drainage Basin

• An area of land where all precipitation gathers and drains off into a common outlet, such as a river or lake.
• Functions as a critical part of the hydrological cycle, influencing water flow and sediment transport.

Tributary

• A river or stream flowing into a larger river or lake, contributing to its water volume.
• Plays a key role in increasing the complexity of a river system and its ecological diversity.

Confluence

• The point where two or more bodies of water meet, such as where a tributary joins a main river.
• Significant for ecological habitats and water resource management.

Mouth

• The location where a river flows into a larger body of water, such as an ocean, sea, or lake.
• Essential for sediment deposition and often characterized by deltas or estuaries, rich in biodiversity.

Watershed

• An area of land that separates waters flowing to different rivers, lakes, or seas; also known as a catchment area.
• Essential for watershed management and conservation efforts to protect water resources.

Interception

• The process by which precipitation is caught and held by vegetation, leaf litter, and other surfaces before reaching the ground.
• Helps reduce soil erosion, improve water retention, and support biodiversity.

Infiltration

• The process of water entering the soil surface, becoming part of the groundwater supply.
• Influenced by soil composition, vegetation, and land use, affecting overall water availability.

Surface Run-off

• Water that flows over the ground surface when the soil is saturated or impermeable.
• Critical for generating river flow and influencing flood events.

Throughflow

• The lateral movement of water through the soil layer towards rivers and streams.
• Essential for maintaining stream ecosystems and influencing water quality.

Erosion

• The process of wearing away the Earth's surface by wind, water, ice, or human activity.
• Influences landscape formation, sediment transport, and ecosystem dynamics.