Hydrological Cycle Terminology Quiz

What is a drainage basin?

• The area drained by a river and all its tributaries enclosed by the water shed

• The highest land bordering the basin

• A small river that joins a larger one

• The point where two rivers join

What is a water shed?

• The area drained by a river and all its tributaries enclosed by the water shed

• The highest land bordering the basin

• A small river that joins a larger one

• The point where two rivers join

What is a tributary?

• A small river that joins a larger one

• The area drained by a river and all its tributaries enclosed by the water shed

• The highest land bordering the basin

• The point where two rivers join

What is confluence?

• The point where two rivers join

• The area drained by a river and all its tributaries enclosed by the water shed

• A small river that joins a larger one

• The highest land bordering the basin

What is precipitation?

• Rain, snow, sleet or hail

• Water going in to the hydrological cycle

• Water leaving the system e.g. through evaporation

• Water being held or stored either in lakes or clouds

What is interception?

• Precipitation falling into the drainage basin can be intercepted by the leaves of trees and by ground vegetation

• Some of the precipitation that reaches the ground continues downward through the soil

• Some of the precipitation reaching the ground continues downwards through the soil

• Water on tree leaves, vegetation or lying on the ground or in river channels can be evaporated back into the atmosphere

What is infiltration?

• Some of the precipitation that reaches the ground continues downward through the soil

• Precipitation falling into the drainage basin can be intercepted by the leaves of trees and by ground vegetation

• Some of the precipitation reaching the ground continues downwards through the soil

• Water on tree leaves, vegetation or lying on the ground or in river channels can be evaporated back into the atmosphere

What is overland flow?

• Some of the precipitation reaching the ground continues downwards through the soil

• Some of the precipitation that reaches the ground continues downward through the soil

• Precipitation falling into the drainage basin can be intercepted by the leaves of trees and by ground vegetation

• Water on tree leaves, vegetation or lying on the ground or in river channels can be evaporated back into the atmosphere

What is evaporation?

• Water on tree leaves, vegetation or lying on the ground or in river channels can be evaporated back into the atmosphere

• Some of the precipitation that reaches the ground continues downward through the soil

• Some of the precipitation reaching the ground continues downwards through the soil

• Precipitation falling into the drainage basin can be intercepted by the leaves of trees and by ground vegetation

What is throughflow?

• Infiltrating water continues down slopes through the soil towards the river channel

• Water which collects and is stored in lakes, river channels or marshes

• Water going in to the hydrological cycle

• Water being held or stored either in lakes or clouds