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Water and Carbon Cycles

Infiltration, overland flow and throughflow

  • 2 things to know
  • Component 2

Overview

Infiltration capacity and overland flow.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

Define infiltration.

Key term

What is infiltration capacity, and in what units is it measured?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Define infiltration.

    Model answer

    Infiltration is the movement of water from the surface downward into the soil. Gravity and capillary attraction together drive the process.

  2. 2

    What is infiltration capacity, and in what units is it measured?

    Model answer

    Infiltration capacity is the maximum rate at which a soil can absorb water. Measurement is in millimetres per hour.

  3. 3

    Compare the infiltration capacity of a sandy soil and a clay soil.

    Model answer

    A coarse sandy soil can absorb well over 200 millimetres an hour through its large pore spaces. A compacted clay soil may absorb under 5 millimetres an hour.

  4. 4

    Why does infiltration capacity fall during a storm?

    Model answer

    Pore spaces fill with water as the storm continues, which reduces the space available for more. Raindrop impact also seals the surface with a crust of fine particles.

  5. 5

    Define overland flow.

    Model answer

    Overland flow is water moving across the ground surface towards a channel. Movement occurs either as a thin sheet or in small rills.

  6. 6

    Explain how infiltration-excess overland flow is generated.

    Model answer

    Infiltration-excess overland flow occurs when rainfall intensity exceeds the soil's infiltration capacity. Water then ponds on the surface and runs downslope even though the soil is not saturated.

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