Runoff is distributed through surface flow, infiltration into the ground, and evaporation. When water falls onto the surface, it can either flow overland into streams and rivers, infiltrate into the ground to replenish groundwater, or evaporate back into the atmosphere. The distribution of runoff depends on factors such as topography, soil type, land use, and precipitation intensity.
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The two types of runoff are surface runoff, which occurs when water flows over the ground surface, and subsurface runoff, which occurs when water moves underground through soil and rock layers.
It is called runoff
Another name for surface runoff is overland flow.
Runoff abstractions refer to the portion of precipitation that is prevented from entering a water body due to interception, infiltration, or evaporation. It is essentially the amount of water that does not contribute to surface runoff. The relationship between runoff abstractions and precipitation is that as precipitation increases, the amount of water available for abstractions also increases, potentially impacting the overall runoff volume.
Rainfall can increase runoff by adding more water to the surface of the ground. If the ground is already saturated or impermeable, the excess water cannot infiltrate and will instead flow over the surface, causing runoff. Factors like soil permeability, slope of the land, and vegetation cover can also influence runoff.