Drainage basin

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-008506",
  "term": "Drainage basin",
  "field": "Environment",
  "term_source": "Drainage Basin",
  "definition": "1. A part of a land area enclosed by a topographic divide from which direct surface runoff from precipitation normally drains by gravity into a receiving water. Also referred to as a watershed, river basin, or hydrologic unit.\n\n2. The area of land that drains water, sediment, and dissolved materials to a common outlet at some point along a stream channel.\n\n3. An area of land that drains into a particular river, lake, bay or other body of water. We all live in a drainage basin: some are large (like the Chesapeake), while others are small (like your local stream or creek). Also called a watershed.\n\n4. A topographically delimited area, scale independent, which drains surface and subsurface water to a common outlet. The hydrological system within a watershed is comprised of precipitation inputs, surface water (e.g., streams, rivers, lakes), soil water, and groundwater; vegetation and land use greatly affect these processes.\n\n5. The land area that drains into a stream; the watershed for a major river may encompass a number of smaller watersheds that ultimately combine at a common point.\n\n6. An area of land that drains into a particular river, lake, bay or other body of water. We all live in a watershed: some are large (like the Chesapeake), while others are small (like your local stream or creek).\n\n7. Land area where precipitation runs off into streams, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. It is a land feature that can be identified by tracing a line along the highest elevations between two areas on a map, often a ridge. Large drainage basins, like the area that drains into the Mississippi River contain thousands of smaller drainage basins. Also called a \"watershed.\"\n\n8. The land area drained by a stream.\n\n9. Area of land that drains into a particular river, lake, bay or other body of water. Also called a watershed.\n\n10. A regional land area, defined by topography, soil, and drainage characteristics, within which raw waters collect and replenish supplies.",
  "subject": "Natural environments",
  "references": [
    "Sediment Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) Glossary",
    "Drinking Water Technical & Legal Terms; Terms of Environment",
    "Chesapeake Bay Glossary",
    "EPA Path Forward Documents, Framework for Safe and Sustainable Water Resources Research Program",
    "Terms of Environment",
    "USGS Water Science Glossary of Terms",
    "USGS Geology in the Parks Glossary",
    "Chesapeake Bay Program Glossary",
    "Water Conservation Glossary"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/drainage-basin/"
}