Infiltration occurs when surface water enters the soil. This process is similar to pouring water onto a sponge. The sponge soaks up the water until it can hold no more. ... When this happens, we get overflow in the form of runoff, which is when surface water flows over land.
What is runoff and infiltration in the water cycle?
A portion of the precipitation that reaches the Earth’s surface seeps into the ground through the process called infiltration. Precipitation that reaches the surface of the Earth but does not infiltrate the soil is called runoff. Runoff can also come from melted snow and ice.
Does infiltration cause runoff?
Soils absorbing less water result in more runoff overland into streams. ... Water that, in natural conditions, infiltrated directly into soil now runs off into streams. Slope of the land: Water falling on steeply-sloped land runs off more quickly and infiltrates less than water falling on flat land.
What is infiltration runoff?
Infiltration is the process by which water on the ground surface enters the soil . ... Infiltration rate in soil science is a measure of the rate at which a particular soil is able to absorb rainfall or irrigation. It is measured in inches per hour or millimeters per hour.
What is meant by water infiltration?
Infiltration is defined as the flow of water from aboveground into the subsurface . The topic of infiltration has received a great deal of attention because of its importance to topics as widely ranging as irrigation, contaminant transport, groundwater recharge, and ecosystem viability.
Where does infiltration water go?
Infiltration and percolation
Water infiltrates the soil by moving through the surface. Percolation is the movement of water through the soil itself. Finally, as the water percolates into the deeper layers of the soil, it reaches ground water , which is water below the surface.
What are examples of runoff?
Runoff is defined as excess water draining away from land or buildings. The overflow of water that drains off of your driveway is an example of runoff. Dissolved chemicals, etc, included in such water. The runoff of nitrates is poisoning the lake.
What are signs of infiltration?
- Redness around the site.
- Swelling, puffy or hard skin around the site.
- Blanching (lighter skin around the IV site)
- Pain or tenderness around the site.
- IV not working.
- Cool skin temperature around the IV site or of the scalp, hand, arm, leg or foot near the site.
What is an example of infiltration?
The gang was infiltrated by undercover agents . Attempts to infiltrate undercover agents into the gang have failed. Water can easily infiltrate the soil.
How do you control infiltration?
One way to control building infiltration is to offset outdoor air intentionally brought into the building from the exhaust air . With this slight pressurization, a calculated amount of air leaks out of the building to prevent potentially humid outside air from entering the building.
What causes a runoff?
Runoff picks up fertilizer, oil, pesticides, dirt, bacteria and other pollutants as it makes its way through storm drains and ditches – untreated – to our streams, rivers, lakes and the ocean. ... Reduce flooding – When heavy rain falls, the runoff that flows into the street can back up and cause street flooding.
What are the stages of infiltration?
- Skin blanched. Edema < 1 inch in any direction. Cool to touch. With or without pain.
- Skin blanched. Edema 1-6 inches in any direction. Cool to touch. With or without pain.
- Skin blanched, translucent. Gross edema > 6 inches in any direction. Cool to touch. Mild-moderate pain. Possible numbness.
What is the process of runoff?
Runoff occurs when there is more water than land can absorb . The excess liquid flows across the surface of the land and into nearby creeks, streams, or ponds. ... Glaciers, snow, and rain all contribute to this natural runoff. Runoff also occurs naturally as soil is eroded and carried to various bodies of water.
What are the factors that affect infiltration?
- Precipitation. Precipitation can impact infiltration in many ways. ...
- Soil characteristics. The porosity of soils is critical in determine the infiltration capacity. ...
- Soil moisture content. ...
- Organic materials in soils. ...
- Land cover. ...
- Slope. ...
- General hydrologic budget. ...
- Richards’ equation (1931)
How do you calculate water infiltration rate?
The infiltration volume is obtained by subtracting runoff volume from rainfall volume. The average infiltration rate is obtained by dividing infiltration volume by rainfall duration .
How do humans affect infiltration?
Infiltration is a complex process, controlled by a large number of factors and widely influenced by human activities. ... Most human activities affect the hydrologic cycle by decreasing infiltration and increasing overland flow , but interventions in urban areas have begun to increase the infiltration of storm water.
