Catchment Area (Noun)
Meaning
The entire geographical area drained by a river and its tributaries; an area characterized by all runoff being conveyed to the same outlet; "flood control in the Missouri basin".
Classification
Nouns denoting spatial position.
Examples
- The Mississippi River catchment area is the second-largest in the world and covers nearly 40% of the continental United States.
- River basins and catchment areas are often used interchangeably, but river basins sometimes include land beyond the catchment area.
- Watershed and catchment area are also sometimes used as synonyms even though these geographical terms do not always have the exact same meaning.
- Plants and sediment are transported along the river system within a catchment area, often getting deposited near a body of water.
- Local councils encouraged residents not to dispose of waste in stormwater drains within the city's catchment area to protect the river's ecosystem.