Hydrological cycle key terms

Hydrosphere

• The water on or surrounding the surface including Oceans and Seas.

• The water in solid form on earth's surface.

• Mass of air surrounding earth.

Cryosphere

• The water in solid form on earth's surface.

• Balance between inputs and outputs

• Water seeping into soil/ rock.

Mass balance

• Living parts of the earth

• Balance between inputs and outputs

• Air surrounding the earth

Interception

• The lowest level water can get to

• Water seeping into the soil

• Precipitation not reaching the ground as it's stopped by trees

Stem flow

• Volume of water in a river.

• Water moving down stems and trunks

• Water on earth's surface

The level below ground which is saturated by water.

• Sublimation

• Percolation

• Water table

Evaporation

• Water turns into water vapour

• Water vapour turns into water

• Ice turns into water vapour

Volume of water at a particular point of a river

• Surface run off

• River discharge

• Channel

Throughflow

• Movement of water through the soil

• Overland flow of water

• Water in a river

Transpiration

• Water seeping into soil

• Evaporation from the seas

• Water evaporated from vegetation