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Water and Carbon Cycles

Percolation, groundwater flow, channel flow and basin outputs

  • 2 things to know
  • Component 2

Overview

Groundwater flow, channel flow and unit of river discharge.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What is evapotranspiration, and how does the potential figure differ from the actual one?

Key term

Define percolation.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Define percolation.

    Model answer

    Percolation is the downward movement of water from the soil into the underlying permeable rock. Gravity drives the transfer through joints, bedding planes and pore spaces.

  2. 2

    How does percolation differ from infiltration?

    Model answer

    Infiltration moves water from the surface into the soil. Percolation carries it on from the soil into the bedrock beneath.

  3. 3

    Define groundwater flow.

    Model answer

    Groundwater flow is the slow lateral movement of water through saturated rock towards a river or the sea. Permeability and the gradient of the water table set the rate.

  4. 4

    What is baseflow?

    Model answer

    Baseflow is the portion of river discharge supplied by groundwater seeping into the channel. Rivers depend entirely on baseflow during long dry spells.

  5. 5

    Why is groundwater flow the slowest transfer in the drainage basin?

    Model answer

    Water must squeeze through narrow pores and fractures against considerable friction. Typical rates are measured in metres per day or even metres per year.

  6. 6

    What is a spring, and why does one form?

    Model answer

    A spring is a point where the water table intersects the ground surface and groundwater emerges. Springs commonly form where permeable rock lies above an impermeable layer.

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