29 terms in 5
5.1: Hydrological Cycle
The hydrological cycle is a closed system where water is continuously cycled between the atmosphere, land, and oceans th
The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity
5.1: Hydrological Cycle
A drainage basin is an open system consisting of a land area whose water is collected by a river and its tributaries. It
The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity
5.1: Hydrological Cycle
Precipitation is the process by which condensed water in clouds falls to the Earth's surface in various forms including
The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity
5.1: Hydrological Cycle
Interception is the process by which precipitation is intercepted and held by vegetation canopies before reaching the so
The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity
5.1: Hydrological Cycle
Infiltration is the downward movement of water from the soil surface into the soil profile. The infiltration rate depend
The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity
5.2: Percolation
Percolation is the downward movement of water through soil pores and rock cracks toward deeper groundwater aquifers. Unl
The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity
5.2: Percolation
Throughflow (also called interflow) is the lateral movement of water through soil layers and the upper soil profile, mov
The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity
5.2: Percolation
Groundwater flow is the movement of water through permeable rocks and soil beneath the water table toward discharge poin
The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity
5.2: Percolation
Evapotranspiration is the combined process of evaporation from soil and water surfaces plus transpiration from plant lea
The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity
5.2: Percolation
Surface runoff (or overland flow) is the rapid movement of water over the land surface toward river channels, occurring
The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity
5.3: Water Budget
A water budget (or water balance) is a quantitative analysis of inputs, flows, and outputs of water in a drainage basin
The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity
5.3: Water Budget
A river regime is the seasonal pattern of discharge in a river, showing how water flow varies throughout the year. Diffe
The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity
5.3: Water Budget
A storm hydrograph (or flood hydrograph) is a detailed time-series graph showing the relationship between rainfall and r
The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity
5.3: Water Budget
Baseflow is the component of streamflow provided by groundwater discharge that maintains river flow during periods witho
The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity
5.4: Drought
Drought is a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, leading to a shortage of water and causing significant impacts
The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity
5.4: Drought
El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a climate pattern in the tropical Pacific Ocean involving irregular oscillations
The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity
5.5: Flooding
Flooding occurs when surface water from rivers, heavy rainfall, or coastal surge overflows or inundates normally dry lan
The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity
5.5: Flooding
Flood risk is a combination of flood hazard (probability of flooding occurring) and vulnerability (consequences for peop
The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity
5.5: Flooding
A flash flood is a rapid onset of flooding caused by intense rainfall, rapid snowmelt, or dam failure, often with little
The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity
5.7: Water Insecurity
Water insecurity is the inability of individuals or populations to access sufficient quantities of clean water to meet t
The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity
5.7: Water Insecurity
Water stress occurs when annual water demand exceeds reliable water supply, usually defined as occurring when less than
The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity
5.7: Water Insecurity
Water scarcity is the lack of sufficient available water resources to meet the demands of water usage in a given area, w
The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity
5.8: Water Conflict
Water conflict occurs when tensions over control of shared water resources between nations, regions, or communities esca
The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity
5.8: Water Conflict
Transboundary (or international) rivers are water systems that flow across political boundaries between two or more coun
The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity
5.9: Hard Engineering Solutions
Hard engineering solutions are structural measures that directly control water flow through concrete or concrete-reinfor
The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity
5.9: Hard Engineering Solutions
Soft engineering solutions are sustainable water management approaches that work with natural processes to control flood
The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity
5.9: Hard Engineering Solutions
Integrated drainage basin management (IDBM) is a holistic approach to water resource management that considers all upstr
The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity
5.9: Hard Engineering Solutions
River basins where water resources span multiple countries, creating complexity in water management and requiring intern
The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity