What is overland flow and when does it typically occur?

Overland flow is water moving across the land surface towards channels; it occurs when rainfall intensity exceeds infiltration capacity or when soils are saturated.

Describe channel flow as a transfer within the drainage basin system.

Channel flow is the movement of water within the river channel downstream towards the basin outlet, representing the main output of the catchment system.

How does rainfall intensity affect stores and transfers in a drainage basin?

High-intensity rainfall can exceed infiltration capacity, generating rapid overland flow and quick peaks in discharge, with less water entering soil moisture or groundwater stores.

How does the type of precipitation influence drainage basin processes?

Snow accumulates as a temporary store and releases water during melt; rain enters the system immediately. Hail or sleet may behave differently depending on temperature.

Why is seasonality of precipitation important for catchment stores and transfers?

Seasonal patterns determine when recharge of soil moisture and groundwater occurs, affecting baseflow reliability and the timing of flood risk throughout the year.

AQA A-Level Geography 7037

Water and Carbon Cycles

Topic overview Systems, Stores and Flows Mass Balance in Water and Carbon Stores Fieldwork and the Rainforest Case Study Measures of Central Tendency and Dispersion Spearman's Rank, Chi-Square and Data Analysis Scatter Graphs, Triangular Graphs and Logarithmic Scales Atlas, Thematic and Flow-Line Maps OS Maps, Sketch Maps and Field Sketches Remote Sensing, GIS and Big Data Qualitative Data, Questionnaires and Interviews Sampling, Accuracy and Measurement Error Data Misuse and Research Ethics The Global Water Stores Evaporation, Condensation and Cloud Formation Precipitation and Cryospheric Processes The Drainage Basin as an Open System Infiltration and Overland Flow The Water Balance Equation Flood Hydrographs Human Impacts on the Water Cycle The Global Carbon Stores Photosynthesis, Respiration and Carbon Transfer Farming, Land Use and Carbon Sinks Greenhouse Gases and Links between the Cycles Feedback Loops and Climate Change Carbon Sequestration and Mitigation Mass Balance in a Drainage Basin Unit Conversion and Flux Calculations Line Graphs, Bar Graphs and Pie Charts Water and Carbon Cycles in the Tropical Rainforest The Amazon rainforest case study Stores within a River Catchment Transfers and the Controls on Catchment Hydrology The River Eden catchment case study

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Topic overview Biodiversity Levels and Causes of Decline Biodiversity Loss and Ecosystem Services Ecosystem Structure, Trophic Levels and Food Webs Ecosystem Inputs, Outputs, Stores and Transfers Biomass, Net Primary Production and Succession Nutrient Cycling, Climate and Soil Environmental Controls and Ecosystem Feedback Biomes and the Tropical Rainforest Environment Rainforest Stratification and Adaptations Savanna Climate, Soils and Adaptations Human Impacts on the Tropical Rainforest Human Impacts on the Savanna Succession and Climatic Climax Temperate Deciduous Woodland Plagioclimax and Heather Moorland Coral Reef Conditions, Services and Stresses Human Pressures and Coral Reef Management The Great Barrier Reef: Extent and Bleaching Crown-of-Thorns Starfish and Reef Tourism Local Ecosystems: Heathland, Parkland, Ponds and Dunes Adaptations to Dry Environments Agriculture, Urbanisation and Invasive Species Ecological Change and Conservation Strategies Sustainability and Stakeholder Conflict Studying Local Ecosystems and Ecological Change The Sefton Coast sand dunes case study Ecological change in Borneo

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Water and Carbon Cycles

Transfers and the Controls on Catchment Hydrology

3 things to know
Component 1

Overview

Recall questions on overland and channel flow, and on how rainfall intensity and duration alter stores and transfers.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Key term

What effect does precipitation duration have on catchment hydrology?

Key term

In what ways can catchment characteristics influence water quality for supply?

Key term

What catchment characteristics increase flood risk?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
What is overland flow and when does it typically occur?
Model answer
Overland flow is water moving across the land surface towards channels; it occurs when rainfall intensity exceeds infiltration capacity or when soils are saturated.
2
Describe channel flow as a transfer within the drainage basin system.
Model answer
Channel flow is the movement of water within the river channel downstream towards the basin outlet, representing the main output of the catchment system.
3
How does rainfall intensity affect stores and transfers in a drainage basin?
Model answer
High-intensity rainfall can exceed infiltration capacity, generating rapid overland flow and quick peaks in discharge, with less water entering soil moisture or groundwater stores.
4
What effect does precipitation duration have on catchment hydrology?
Model answer
Prolonged rainfall saturates soils, reducing infiltration over time and increasing throughflow and overland flow, leading to sustained high river levels.
5
How does the type of precipitation influence drainage basin processes?
Model answer
Snow accumulates as a temporary store and releases water during melt; rain enters the system immediately. Hail or sleet may behave differently depending on temperature.
6
Why is seasonality of precipitation important for catchment stores and transfers?
Model answer
Seasonal patterns determine when recharge of soil moisture and groundwater occurs, affecting baseflow reliability and the timing of flood risk throughout the year.

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AThe horns have less sand volume, so they move more quickly.

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