Water Movement
Precipitation can travel on the Earth’s surface as runoff, or throughout the soil as groundwater
Runoff
The movement of water above the Earth’s surface leading to rivers, streams, or oceans
Runoff Factors
Storm Intensity can influence the amount runoff


More Intense Storms can create more runoff
More Runoff carries more pollutants to rivers, streams, and oceans
As storms persist, water can infiltrate into the ground.


Too much infiltration causes over saturation of the soil creating more runoff because the soil cannot hold any more water
Groundwater
Water within the Earth’s surface
Underground Stages
The initial downward movement of water after contacting the soil surface is called infiltration
Interception can occur when plant roots catch water during infiltration
Water will begin to percolate as it moves horizontally through the soil

Percolation occurs in 2 types of movement

Water moving in the subsurface of the Earth is called interflow
Water moving deep within the Earth is called baseflow