The document discusses key concepts about running water and the water cycle. It defines terms like infiltration, transpiration, gradient, stream channel, discharge, tributary, base level, and meander. It explains that water constantly circulates among the oceans, atmosphere, geosphere, and biosphere in the water cycle. Balance in the cycle means annual precipitation equals evaporation globally. A stream's ability to erode and transport materials depends on its velocity, while gradient decreases and discharge increases from headwaters to the mouth.

1. 6.1 Running Water

2. Water Cycle
• The constant movement of water among the
oceans, the atmosphere, geosphere, and the
biosphere.

3. Infiltration
• The movement of surface water into rock or
soil through cracks and pore spaces

4. transpiration
• When plants absorb water and release it into
the atmosphere

5. Gradient
• The slope of a stream over a certain distance

6. Stream channel
• The course that the water in a stream follows

7. Discharge
• The quantity of water in a stream that passes
a given point in a period of time

8. tributary
• A stream that empties itself into another
stream

9. Base level
• The lowest point to which a stream can erode
its channel

10. Meander
• A looplike bend in the course of a stream

11. Key Concept
• Water constantly moves along the oceans, the
atmosphere, the solid earth, and the
biosphere. This unending circulation of Earth’s
water supply is the water cycle.

12. Key Concept
• Balance in the water cycle means the average
annual precipitation over Earth equals the
amount of water that evaporates.

13. Key Concept
• The ability of a stream to erode and transport
materials depends largely on its velocity.

14. Key Concept
• While gradient decreases between a stream’s
headwaters and mouth, discharge increases.