Surface runoff is affected by both meteorological factors and the physical geology and topography of the land. The vegetation or lack thereof on the land surface either aids or detracts from how much water the land can absorb. Similar storms occurring in the Amazon jungle and in the desert Southwest of the United States will produce different surface-runoff effects.
Surface runoff, especially when it runs across surfaces like roads, can pick up and then deposit particulate matter and sediment into the river (which isn't good for water quality).Īs with all aspects of the water cycle, the interaction between precipitation and surface runoff varies according to time and geography.
Water will flow along channels as it moves into larger creeks, streams, and rivers. During a heavy rain you might notice small rivulets of water flowing downhill. It is easy to see if it flows down your driveway to the curb and into a storm sewer, but it is harder to notice it flowing overland in a natural setting. When rain hits saturated or impervious ground, it begins to flow overland downhill. While much of the water in rivers comes directly from runoff from the land surface, they also gain and lose water to the ground.
#Raindrop shape mineral full#
The oceans are kept full by precipitation and also by runoff and discharge from rivers and the ground.Ī simple way to put it is: precipitation falls on the land, flows overland ( runoff), and runs into rivers, which then empty into the oceans. In our section about water storage in the oceans we describe how the oceans act as a large storehouse of water that evaporates to become atmospheric moisture. Areas with impervious surfaces cause excessive runoff. Surfaces that are not pervious, which means they do not allow water to pass through them, can include roofs of buildings, roads, driveways, cars, sidewalks, parking lots, and more.
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