Q&A from 206

1) Hidayah/ Danial/Tiffany/Haikal/Eunice/Cynthia: What does the drainage basin do?  How does it works? 

Miss ST: A drainage basin is an area land where water from rain / snow flows and joins into another waterbody, such as a river or the sea. It shows how water moves from the ocean, into the air, converted into clouds, falls as rains and flows in the ground. 

2) XinYi/Xuan Qi: Why is there a water cycle? Why do we need the river system?

Miss ST: The water cycle is a natural process that occurs on earth. It is the flow of water in our environment in liquid/solid to gaseous form. We need the river system as it helps to purify and replenish our supply of water.

3) Xuan Qi/XinRui: How important is it? Does it help us? Why do we need a river system?

Miss ST: Water in the rivers helps to transport nutrients and sediments, which is important in farming. This will benefit and help us. Water from the rain will also replenish the supply of water in the rivers and reservoirs, this provides our source of water for drinking.

4) Chun Kit: How does the hydrological cycle work? 
Miss ST: Hope this animation explains the cycle clearer to you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdQdP6eZTUs

5) Tiffany: Why do the drainage basin look like a tree?

Miss ST: The smaller branches are actually small streams of rivers from the top of the mountains flowing downwards, we call it tributaries. Eventually it connects to the confluence, which is the main river channel, and joins up. As it flows down towards the river mouth, it joins into the sea.

6) Tiffany/Zhi Wei/XinRui/Rachel/Whitney/Rios: What is the difference between condensation and precipitation? Does it have the same meaning? What is precipitation?
 Condensation process
 Precipitation
Miss ST: Condensation is the process whereby water is changed from gas to liquid state. This is a PROCESS that is happening. Precipitation is referring to the RAIN.  Precipitation is not the same as condensation.

7) Zhiwei/Rachel: What is transpiration?

Miss ST: Transpiration is the evaporation of water into the atmosphere from the leaves and stems of plants. 

8) Rachel/Clester: What is surface run off?

Miss ST: Surface runoff is water, from rain, snowmelt, or other sources, that flows over the land surface. It usually occurs when the water does not flow into the soil.

9) Shao Yang/Xin Yee/ Xuan Qi: What is the difference between Infiltration and Percolation?


Miss ST: Good Question! Infiltration is the movement of water from the ground surface into the ground layers.. Percolation of water is the movement of water down through the soil until it reaches the water table. Percolation happens at a DEEPER layer underground whereas Infiltration is at the layer nearer to the ground surface.

10) Eunice: What does the streams in a drainage basin do?

Miss ST: The streams are called tributaries and they help to collect water from the rain and snow. The water in the streams then flows into the main river, which may link to the sea, or lake.