EARTH121 Chapter Notes - Chapter 15: Evapotranspiration, Point Bar, Headward Erosion
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Evapotranspiration: combined amount of water that is released into the atmosphere through evaporation and transpiration. Running water is the water that goes through runoff rather than infiltration. Sheet flow to channel flow: infiltration capacity: max. rate at which the ground can absorb water, dependent on: Vegetative cover: sheetflow: when the soil becomes saturated with water, a thin sheet like layer of water flows over the ground for a short distance. Overtime, tiny channels called rills are formed. Rills gullies streams (water that flows along in natural channels) Water molecules follow a straight path parallel to the channel. Occurs when water is moving slowly through a smooth channel: turbulent flow. Water moves in a chaotic, erratic fashion (swirling) Occurs when velocity increases this flow erodes the channel. Carries sediment downstream (violent flow causes sediment to become suspended: velocities: Smooth channel: max. velocity in the center of a stream and lowest on sides.