Vocabulary #4 Water Erosion and Deposition

    

Runoff:

     Water that doesn’t soak into the ground or evaporates but instead flows across Earth’s surface.

Channel:

      Water moving down the same path that creates a groove.

Sheet erosion:

     Surface water erosion that occurs when water that is flowing as sheets picks up and carries away sediments.

Drainage basin:

     The area of land from which a stream or river collects runoff.

Meander:

     Broad c-shaped curve in a stream or river, formed by erosion of its outer bank.

Groundwater:

     Water that soaks into the ground and collects in pores or empty spaces; an important source of water.

Permeable:

     Describes rock and material with connecting pores through which water can flow.

Impermeable:

     Describes materials water cannot pass through.

Aquifer:
     The layer of permeable rock that lets water move freely.

  Water table:
        Upper surface of the zone of saturation; drops during a drought.

  Spring:
      Occurs when water table meets Earth’s surface, often found on hillsides and used as a freshwater source.

  Geyser: 
       A hot spring that erupts periodically, shooting water and steam into the air.

   Cave:
        An underground opening that can form when acidic groundwater dissolves limestone.



  Longshore current:

Current that runs parallel to the shoreline, is caused by waves colliding against the shore at slight angles, and moves tons of loose sediments.

  Beach:

       Deposition of sediment that are parallel to the shore.