DRAINAGE BASIN

THE DRAINAGE BASIN AS AN OPEN SYSTEM WITH INPUTS (PRECIPITATION OF

VARYING TYPE AND INTENSITY), OUTPUTS (EVAPORATION AND
TRANSPIRATION), FLOWS (INFILTRATION, THROUGHFLOW, OVERLAND FLOW
AND BASE FLOW) AND STORES (INCLUDING VEGETATION, SOIL, AQUIFERS
PROCESSES WHICH OPERATE IN A DRAINAGE
BASIN
∙ Stem flow: the flow of intercepted water down the trunk or stem of a
plant.
∙ Percolation: When water travels from unsaturated ground into saturated
ground.
∙ Groundwater flow: The movement of water through saturated ground.
∙ Throughflow: Water that travels through unsaturated ground.
∙ Canopy drip: Intercepted water dripping off vegetation onto the ground.
PROCESSES OPERATING IN A DRAINAGE
BASIN(INPUTS AND TRANSFERS)
• Precipitation: water released from clouds in the form of rain, freezing
rain, sleet, snow, or hail. 
∙ Infiltration:  The downward movement of water from the surface into the
soil.
∙ Surface run-off (overland flow):the movement of water across the
surface of the earth
∙ Channel flow: the movement of water within the river channel.
PROCESSES WHICH OPERATE IN A DRAINAGE
BASIN(STORES)
∙ Interception: all processes that prevent rainfall from immediately
reaching the soil.
∙ Surface storage: Any water that is held on the surface of the earth e.g.
lake or pond.
∙ Soil-moisture storage: Water that is stored below the surface in
unsaturated ground.
∙ Groundwater storage: Water that is stored in saturated ground.
PROCESSES WHICH OPERATE IN A DRAINAGE
BASIN(OUTPUTS)
Evaporation: Liquid water from surface stores and rivers turning into water
vapour (gaseous state).
Transpiration:is the process of water loss from plants through stomata.
These two terms are sometimes collectively known as evapotranspiration.

River discharge: the volume of water flowing through a river channel and

the river flow later flows into the sea.
THANK YOU
DONE BY: ALI