Human factors that influence the drainage basin system

Drainage basin Human activity How does the activity influence the drainage basin process? Named example detail
process(es) affected
Cloud seeding Silver iodide pellets or ammonium nitrate act as condensation nuclei to attract Drought stricken areas
Precipitation water droplets. This increases rainfall to drought-stricken areas.

Deforestation Enormous artificial reservoir behind mega dams

Evaporation and Lake Nasser in
evapotranspiration The channelization of rivers in urban areas into conduits cuts down surface southern Egypt
storage
Interception

Surface run-off
Afforestation Afforestation traps silt and slows the hydrological cycle by lengthening lag River Severn in Mid
Interception times. Wales

Surface run-off

Mega dams Changes in global land use causes Increased evaporation potential Aswan Dam
Evaporation

Channelisation of Changes in global land use causes Increased evaporation protentional

Evaporation rivers

Conversion to Change of land use – conversion to farmland there is reduced interception, Forests to farmland
Infiltration grassland increased soil compaction and more overland flow

Farming practices Grazing cows leads to soil compaction by the trampling of animals. farms
Infiltration Ploughing increases infiltration by loosening and aerating the soil.

Irrigation Declining water table levels Texan aquifers

Groundwater flow Aral Sea

Manufacturing Decline is water-using manufacturing activity has led to less groundwater being British cities
Groundwater flow activity abstracted. As a result, groundwater levels have begun to rise.