Catchments - Climate

18 important questions on Catchments - Climate

What is the difference between stratiform and convective precipitation?

Stratiform = winters in temperate climates and it is characterized by prolonged periods of extensive areas with a low precipitation intensity.
Convective = high temperatures, short-term, intensive showers on a local scale.

What factors cause spatial variability in precipitation?

1) the size and shape of the clouds
2) precipitation is higher downwind of areas where much water evaporates
3) precipitation is higer on the windward side of mountains

Which type of precipitation has a high spatial variability?

Convective precipitation
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What factors cause temporal variation in precipitation?

1) seasons (not every where, sometimes only the type)
2) climate change (changes average sum and type)

Which type of precipitation often occurs in winter?

Stratiform/frontal precipitation

How does precipitation occur in a mountainous area?

On the windward side clouds are forced upwards and it starts to rain as a result of condensation or sublimation. This causes a rain shadow on the leeward side.

Describe the variation in precipitation:

Precipitation events/showers/storms and dry spells are interchanged. The monsoon season is an example of seasonal variety.

How does the albedo respond to a snow man?

Fresh snow: 0.8-0.95
Crops 0.2-0.3
Deciduous forest: 0.2-0.25
Coniferous forest: 0.1-0.15
water bodies: 0.06

What is interception evaporation?

The evaporation of precipitation which falls on vegetation, but that will never reach the soil. Short term on days with precipitation.

What causes spatial variability in ET?

1) Meterological factors (T, humidity, wind)
2) Land use (vegetation more evap.)
3) Soil moist

What are the types of evapotranspiration?

Interception evaporation
soil evaporation
open water evaporation
transpiration

What causes temporal variability in ET?

The changing available solar radiation.

How can the actual evapotranspiration be obtained of a wet area be obtained?

ETpot is obtained by multiplying the crop factor (f) by the reference evapotranspiration (ETref). In wet areas the ETpot = ETact.

What is the reference evaportranspiration? (ETref)

The ET that theoretically could take place for the actual meteoroligical conditions over well-watered grasslands.

What is the potential evapotranspiration (ETpot)?

The ET that theoretically chould take place for the actual meteorological conditions and local vegetation.

What is the formula for the ETpot?

ETpot = f x ETref
f = crop factor

What is the actual evapotranspiration? (ETact)

The ET that occurs in reality, so for certain meteorological conditions for a certain land use and including possible water stress.

Where is ETref equal to ETact?

In very wet areas.

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