Publication BSE-191P

Hydrology Basics and the Hydrologic Cycle

Zachary M. Easton, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Biological Systems Engineering
Emily Bock, Graduate Research Assistant, Biological Systems Engineering

This fact sheet presents and explains some common The vast majority of Earth’s water is salt water in
concepts in hydrology and the hydrologic cycle. the oceans. Only 2.5 percent of the water on Earth
The science or study of hydrology focuses on the is fresh water, and an even smaller portion of that
distribution, occurrence, circulation, and properties (0.034 percent) is fresh water readily available to
of water in the environment. At its most basic level, humans. Table 1 shows the locations and relative
hydrology is often defined as the study of water; proportions of water on Earth. Where water is located
however, basic concepts in hydrology quickly become and its accessibility are important drivers of human
complex as they are applied to real-world systems habitation, distribution, and success, and they are
to understand and predict what is occurring. This particularly critical to agricultural production.
fact sheet summarizes these complex relationships
and highlights important applications of hydrologic One of the most fundamental properties of water
concepts in agroecosystems, including conservation is that it is neither created nor destroyed. That is,
of soil water in the vadose zone1 to support crop there is the same amount of water on Earth today as
production and water quality. there was millions of years ago; water just changes
phases — from liquid to solid to gas. However,
There are approximately 340,000,000 cubic miles of while the mass of water is conserved, water quality
water on Earth.2 If all of this water were poured into is not, and degradation of water quality effectively
a sphere, it would be nearly 900 miles in diameter. reduces availability of accessible waters for domestic,
industrial, or agricultural uses.
Table 1. Distribution and sources of water on Earth.

Water volume Percentage of Percentage of

Water source (cubic miles) fresh water total water
Oceans 321,000,000 – 96.5000
Glaciers and permanent snow 5,773,000 68.700 1.7400
Groundwater 5,614,000 – 1.6900
Saline 3,088,000 – 0.9300
Fresh 2,526,000 30.100 0.7600
Ground ice and permafrost 71,970 0.860 0.0220
Lakes 42,320 – 0.0130
Fresh 21,830 0.260 0.0070
Saline 20,490 – 0.0060
Soil moisture 3,959 0.050 0.0010
Atmosphere 3,095 0.040 0.0010
Swamp water 2,752 0.030 0.0008
Rivers 509 0.006 0.0002
Biological water (plants and animals) 269 0.003 0.0001
Adapted from Shiklomanov (1993).

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Produced by Communications and Marketing, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech, 2015
Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and employment are open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic
information, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia
State University, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. Edwin J. Jones, Director, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg; M. Ray McKinnie, Interim Administrator, 1890 Extension Program, Virginia
State University, Petersburg.
VT/1015/BSE-191P
 Two types of pollution impact water quality: (1) second phase is the terrestrial phase, which describes
point source pollution, which is direct discharge into water movement in, over, and through the Earth. The
the environment such as from wastewater treatment terrestrial phase is often broken down into the surface
plants; and (2) nonpoint source pollution, which is water phase (runoff, streamflow) and the groundwater
composed of diffuse inputs such as urban stormwater phase (infiltration, percolation, aquifer recharge).
or agricultural runoff. Transportation of pollutants The following sections further define the individual
involves processes occurring both above and below components of the hydrologic cycle. Refer to figure
the ground surface. Pollutants typically associated 1 for a graphical interpretation of how the various
with surface runoff include excess sediment and components interact.
phosphorus, while groundwater can transport nitrogen
and discharge contaminated waters to streams and
rivers as baseflow. Because transport of nonpoint Precipitation
source pollution is mainly driven by the movement Precipitation is any type of condensation of
of water, an understanding of hydrology and the atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity and
hydrologic cycle is critical to managing our water includes rain, snow, sleet, hail, and fog. The amounts
resources to support human needs. and types of precipitation affect soil development,
vegetation growth, and the generation of runoff, which
The water consumption of humans for domestic transports soils, nutrients, and pollutants. Water that
use ranges from 3 to 5 gallons per person per day evaporates (or sublimates) from the Earth’s surface
in developing nations to 150 gallons per person per is stored as water vapor in the atmosphere before
day in the U.S. If industrial and agricultural water returning to the Earth’s surface as precipitation. As
consumption is included in the calculation, the average rain falls from the atmosphere, some is caught by
per capita fresh water use in the U.S. is approximately vegetation (trees, grass, crops), and this is called
1,340 gallons per day (WBCSD 2009). Ensuring “interception.” A portion of intercepted rainfall is
adequate water supply for these uses requires that evaporated back to the atmosphere from the plant
three important characteristics of water are sufficient: surfaces and never reaches the ground. The rainfall
accessibility, quantity, and quality. that does reach the soil surface is referred to as net
rainfall.
Components of Annual precipitation in Virginia averages 40 inches
the Hydrologic Cycle statewide and ranges from 38 inches in the western
The hydrologic cycle is composed of two phases, mountains to about 45 inches on the eastern Coastal
the first of which is the atmospheric phase, which Plain (Southeast Regional Climate Center 2012).
describes water movement as gas (water vapor) and Important aspects of precipitation include the annual
liquid/solid (rain and snow) in the atmosphere. The amount and type (rainfall versus snowfall), which has
important consequences for plant water availability,
soil moisture, and groundwater recharge. Raindrop
size and rainfall intensity (quantity of precipitation
per unit time) affect soil erosion; storms that produce
higher rainfall intensity and larger raindrop size
generally produce more soil erosion. The duration
and frequency of storms affect conditions such as
flooding and drought. For instance, if 50 percent of
the annual rainfall total comes in one event, there is
a higher likelihood of flooding during that period and
of subsequent drought in the remaining period. The
seasonal distribution of precipitation is also important
(table 2; fig. 2). Ideally, adequate but not excessive
rainfall occurs throughout the agronomic growing
Figure 1. The basic hydrologic cycle. season to ensure crop growth, with the remaining
Source: The COMET Program (2005). precipitation distributed relatively evenly throughout
Figure   1.  

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 Table 2. Average monthly distribution of precipitation for five regions of Virginia, 1980-2010.

Western VA
Month Eastern VA Central VA Southern VA mountains Northern VA
Jan 3.5 3.1 3.1 2.8 3.0
Feb 3.4 2.9 3.4 2.9 2.6
Mar 3.8 3.8 3.8 3.8 3.4
Apr 3.1 3.0 3.3 2.8 3.4
May 3.6 3.7 3.6 3.6 4.1
Jun 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.6 4.2
Jul 4.7 4.9 3.6 3.6 3.8
Aug 4.7 4.9 4.2 3.9 4.1
Sep 4.4 3.9 4.2 3.1 3.5
Oct 2.8 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.1
Nov 2.9 3.3 2.7 2.7 3.0
Dec 3.1 3.3 3.3 2.9 3.0
Total 43.6 43.6 42.2 39.0 41.1
Source: Data from Southeast Regional Climate Center (2012).

Northern VA
6
Precipita)on,(inches),
5
4
3

Eastern VA
2

6
Precipita)on,(inches),
1

Western VA
0

June,

4
Sept,
Aug,,
May,
Mar,

Nov,
Dec,
Feb,

Apr,

Oct,
6

Jan,

Jul,,
Precipita)on,(inches),

3
,
5

2
4

1
3

0
2

June,

Sept,
Aug,,
May,
Mar,

Nov,
Dec,
Feb,

Apr,

Oct,
Jan,

Jul,,
1

,
0

June,

Sept,
Aug,,
May,
Mar,

Nov,
Dec,
Feb,

Apr,

Oct,
Jan,

Jul,,

Southern VA Central VA
6
6

Precipita)on,(inches),
Precipita)on,(inches),

5
5

4
4

3
3

2
2

1
1

0
0

June,

Sept,
Aug,,
May,
June,

Sept,
Aug,,

Mar,
May,

Nov,
Mar,

Dec,
Nov,

Feb,

Apr,
Dec,

Oct,
Feb,

Apr,

Jan,
Oct,

Jul,,
Jan,

Jul,,

,
,

Figure  
Figure 2.
2. Monthly precipitation values for five regions of Virginia.

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the year. Due to reduced plant uptake, precipitation The intensity of ET varies seasonally, with higher rates
that occurs outside the growing season has a greater corresponding to spring and summer months when
opportunity to infiltrate the soil and recharge plants are actively growing and lower rates during the
groundwater. fall and winter months when growth slows and plants
become dormant. Plant water requirements and ET
drive a seasonal fluctuation of the water table, where
Evapotranspiration the water table is lower during the growing season
(evaporation + transpiration) when ET is high, and the water table height increases
as ET decreases during the nongrowing season.
Evapotranspiration is the combined effect of
Consequently, seasonal fluctuations in ET have a large
evaporation (movement of water directly into the
impact on water availability in agricultural systems.
atmosphere as water vapor from a surface, such as the
soil or a water body) and transpiration (the process
by which plants carry water from the soil into leaves,
where it is released to the atmosphere as water vapor).
Due to the difficulty in separating the processes of
evaporation and transpiration, the two processes are
generally considered together and referred to as “ET.”
This term includes the water that evaporates directly
from soil, water, and plant surfaces and the water that
is pulled from the soil by plant transpiration. As much
as 75 percent of the water that enters the soil can be
returned to the atmosphere through ET. High wind,
solar radiation, and heat can greatly increase the ET
rate, whereas a high water vapor percentage in the air
(high relative humidity) can decrease the potential
for ET.

Some producers rely on ET estimates made by

government agencies such as the National Weather
Service or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration to schedule irrigation or harvesting
operations. Often what these agencies report for ET is Figure 3. Influence of soil moisture conditions on
what is referred to as “potential evapotranspiration” evapotranspiration given the same solar radiation,
(PET), which is a measure of the maximum ET rate wind, and relative humidity conditions, where
for a given set of conditions defined by solar radiation, potential evapotranspiration takes on a fixed value,
temperature, humidity, and wind conditions and and actual evapotranspiration approaches potential
also assumes that soil moisture is not limiting (i.e., evapotranspiration as soil moisture increases.
the soil is at field capacity). In actuality, as plants
transpire and remove plant-available water from
the soil, the soil begins to dry out, and as a result, Infiltration
the evapotranspiration rate begins to decline. This is Once precipitation has reached the soil surface, some
because the matric potential or suction of the soil of it can infiltrate the soil. Infiltration is the downward
increases, meaning that as the water content decreases, entry of water into the soil. The amount of water that
the remaining soil water is held more tightly in the soil infiltrates and how quickly it infiltrates varies widely
pores. The real ET rate (in inches per day), or what from place to place and depends on soil properties
is actually evapotranspired, is referred to as actual such as soil moisture content, texture, bulk density,
evapotranspiration (AET) and is influenced by all the organic matter content, permeability, porosity,
conditions that control PET, discussed above, plus and the presence of any restrictive layers in the
the actual soil moisture conditions. Therefore, when soil. Permeability is a measure of how fast water
the soil is saturated, AET is equal to PET, but AET flows through the soil. Infiltration and permeability
declines as the soil dries (fig. 3). are greater in porous materials, such as sands or

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gravels, than in clay soils. Porosity is a measure permeability or hydraulic conductivity is reduced
of the total amount of open space or voids in a soil (fig. 4). The presence of vegetation can increase
that are capable of retaining water. Water retained infiltration by promoting macropore formation,
in the soil pores is part of the soil storage, a portion increasing permeability, and adding organic carbon to
of which is available to plants during transpiration. the soil, which reduces the bulk density and promotes
Additionally, plants can utilize water stored in the soil biotic activity of soil organisms such as earthworms.
at a later time, providing a buffer capacity for plants Additionally, vegetative cover increases infiltration
between rains. Therefore, soil structure is an important by protecting the soil’s structure from destruction by
consideration in agroecosystems and can be managed raindrops (maintaining porosity) and prevents the
with various tillage practices or soil amendments. formation of soil crusts with reduced permeability.
Soil management can also greatly affect infiltration
The infiltration rate of any given soil also varies over rates. For instance, stable soil aggregation (the
a rainfall event, usually decreasing significantly as structural unit of soil that is bound together, creating
the soil becomes saturated. If rainfall continues long porosity) can greatly increase the infiltration rate of
enough, the infiltration rate approaches a constant fine-textured loams and clays, and tillage — especially
value comparable to the saturated hydraulic under wet conditions — can break down these soil
conductivity of a soil (fig. 4). This is an important aggregates. Heavy traffic of agricultural equipment
concept both in hydrology and crop production on fields can cause soil compaction, further reducing
because saturated hydraulic conductivity is generally infiltration. Some soils, such as shrink-swell clays,
related to overall crop productivity. Many soils with may temporarily have much higher infiltration rates
low saturated hydraulic conductivity are prone to when they are dry than when they are wet due to
water logging that may reduce crop yields. When cracking at the surface and macropore flow, which
agricultural soils remain saturated too long, the oxygen allows water to move rapidly down into the soil.
content in the soil is depleted, causing plant stress.
Therefore, strategies including ditch or tile drainage
are employed to remove excess water. Percolation and
Climatic, land management, and landscape scale
Groundwater Recharge
factors also influence infiltration. For example, a Aside from plant uptake, another path that water can
compacted or frozen soil reduces infiltration. No-till take after it enters the soil is percolation. Percolation is
soils will generally have a far greater infiltration the downward movement of water that has infiltrated
capacity than will a compacted soil, where the out of the root zone under the pull of gravity. Generally,
percolation is beyond the reach of plant roots. Water
that percolates downward through the soil, below
the plant root zone toward the underlying geologic
formation, is responsible for recharging aquifers.

Groundwater can be a very important source of

irrigation water for agriculture. While much of the
irrigation in the Mid-Atlantic Region relies on surface
water supplies, there is considerable infrastructure
in place to utilize groundwater for irrigation. Many
producers prefer groundwater because it is of higher
quality and less prone to short-term shortages due to
the weather.

Figure 4. Influence of antecedent soil moisture Groundwater Discharge

conditions on the infiltration rate. Note that the infiltration Groundwater that has percolated to an aquifer can be
rate under the wet and dry conditions ultimately reaches stored in that aquifer or can flow out of the aquifer
the same steady state value but at different times during and discharge to a surface water body, such as a
the precipitation event. stream, river, or lake. This groundwater discharge

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creates baseflow — the amount of flow in a stream in compared to low-permeability soils on low slopes,
the absence of additional inputs resulting from storm which are prone to generating more surface runoff.
events — and is an important connection between In agricultural areas, particularly those in hilly
ground and surface waters. terrain, significant quantities of nutrients (particularly
nitrogen) can be transported to streams via interflow.
Groundwater moves from higher elevations to lower
elevations or similarly from areas of higher hydraulic
pressure to areas of lower hydraulic pressure. This Runoff
pressure difference between two points is often There are many ways to describe runoff, but a simple
referred to as hydraulic head gradient. Groundwater definition is the portion of precipitation falling on an
movement always follows the downward hydraulic area that is rapidly discharged from the area through
head gradient; with no hydraulic head gradient there stream channels. However, in reality, runoff generation
is no lateral groundwater movement. Similar to the is a complex process controlled by many factors, and
infiltration rate, the rate of groundwater movement is there are even different types of runoff generated
controlled by the permeability of a geologic material. depending on the conditions. The first type of runoff
In areas of steeper terrain or with gravely or sandy is called infiltration excess runoff and is the type
geologic material, groundwater movement can be quite with which most people are probably familiar. As the
rapid, on the order of 10-1,000 feet per day, while name suggests, infiltration excess runoff occurs when
low gradient areas or areas with lower-permeability the infiltration rate of the soil is less than the rainfall
geologic material conduct water less rapidly, at 0-10 rate (fig. 5). This type of runoff generally occurs
feet per day. during intense thunderstorms or on soils with a low
infiltration rate, such as clays or compacted soils, and

Interflow
Interflow is the lateral movement of infiltrated water
in the vadose zone and is influenced by soil, geologic,
and terrain properties in the surrounding area. As
water infiltrates, some of it may reach a layer of soil or
rock material that restricts downward movement and
causes a perched water table. Restrictive layers can
form naturally (fragipan, clay pan, bedrock) or as a
result of human activities; an example of which is the
creation of a restrictive layer with lower permeability 5a
than the bulk soil created during tillage, which is
referred to as a plow pan. Once water reaches a
restrictive layer and can no longer infiltrate vertically,
it becomes perched over this layer and may then
move laterally as interflow above this layer if there is
sufficient hydraulic head or slope (fig. 5). As interflow
moves through the soil, it accumulates as more
water infiltrates and can saturate the soil profile, as
indicated by the size of the interflow arrows in figure
5. Once the soil saturates either from the incoming
interflow volume or from reduced soil transmissivity,
interflow can then resurface either as runoff on the
5b
soil surface (a process called exfiltration), be directly
discharged to a surface water body or, in many
areas of Virginia, feed springs or seeps (fig. 5). Soils Figure 5a-b. Excess runoff can be a result of (5a) rainfall
with high permeability in hilly terrain, particularly exceeding soil infiltration capacity (infiltration excess
those underlain by a restrictive layer, can conduct a runoff ) or (5b) when soils are or become saturated due to
significant amount of interflow through the profile subsurface water table dynamics (saturation excess runoff ).

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is more common in urban areas where impervious cycle and highlights some concepts of importance
surfaces dominate. Once the precipitation rate exceeds in agroecosystems. Sound decisions about the use
the infiltration rate of the soil, depressions on the and protection of our water resources require a
soil surface begin to fill. These surface depressions fundamental understanding of the basic processes of
provide what is called surface storage or depressional the hydrologic cycle and how water circulates in the
storage (fig. 1). When depressional storage is filled land and atmosphere. Understanding the hydrologic
and precipitation continues to exceed infiltration, cycle is critical because many of the significant
water begins to move down slope as overland flow or environmental and societal problems we face today are
in defined channels. In agroecosystems, depressional related to hydrologic or water issues, including climate
storage can sometimes be enhanced by tillage. change, agricultural productivity and food security,
Although tillage can create these depressional storage energy, and human health.
areas that delay runoff and promote infiltration, often
the tillage-induced compaction outweighs this storage,
resulting in a net increase in surface runoff. Additional Resources
Natural Resources Conservation Service: Erosion
The second type of runoff generation is called Information - www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/
saturation excess runoff, which occurs when the main/national/landuse/crops/erosion/
soil profile becomes saturated with water and can
store no more precipitation. Thus, any precipitation Natural Resources Conservation Service: Soil Textural
falling in these areas becomes runoff. Several terrain Triangle - www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/
and soil properties influence saturation excess runoff soils/survey/?cid=nrcs142p2_054167
generation, which is largely governed by topography
and soil depth. Soils with shallow restricting layers, Southeast Regional Climate Center: Virginia Historical
areas that drain large upslope contributing areas, Data - www.sercc.com/climateinfo/historical/
or areas where the slope flattens are all prone to historical_va.html
generating saturation excess runoff primarily because
interflow from upslope areas can no longer be United Nations: Water Use and Availability - www.
transmitted through the soil profile (fig. 5). Saturation unwater.org/downloads/Water_facts_and_trends.pdf
excess runoff is not sensitive to rainfall intensity or
soil infiltration rate but depends on where the saturated U.S. Geological Survey: Groundwater Facts -
areas occur in the landscape. This type of runoff http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/circ1186/html/gen_facts.html
generation is far more common in the humid temperate
regions, such as the Mid-Atlantic, than infiltration Related Virginia Cooperative
excess runoff, primarily because the region is well-
vegetated and has permeable topsoil. Extension Publications
Benham, B. 2009. A Glossary of Water-Related
Depending on which type of runoff is generated, Terms. VCE publication 442-758. http://pubs.ext.
there can be varying water quality and production vt.edu/442/442-758/442-758_pdf.pdf.
consequences. For instance, sheet and rill erosion
are more common during infiltration excess runoff, Helfrich. L. A., D. L. Weigmann, and R. J. Neves.
partially because this type of runoff is associated with 2009. Landowner’s Guide to Managing Streams in
high rainfall intensities, while saturation excess type the Eastern United States. VCE publication 420-141.
runoff is often responsible for gullying and stream http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/420/420-141/420-141_pdf.pdf.
bank failures due to increased pore water pressure
from the weight of water in the soil profile, which Ross, B., T. Younos, and D. L. Weighman. 2009.
reduces soil cohesion. Virginia Farmstead Assessment System: Site
Evaluation: Groundwater, Soils & Geology.
Conclusion VCE publication 422-901. http://pubs.ext.
vt.edu/442/442-901/442-901.html.
The water on earth is finite, and only a small
amount is readily available for human use. This
publication presents an overview of the hydrologic

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Glossary of Terms infiltration excess runoff - Occurs when water enters
a soil system faster then the soil can absorb or move
antecedent soil moisture - The wetness of a soil that it, such as when precipitation exceeds the infiltration
results from past rainfall or soil drying events. capacity of the soil. Also known as “Hortonian flow.”
aquifer - Saturated fractured rock or other geologic macropores - Large soil pores that form as a result
material such as sand or gravel that water can move of biological activity (root channels, worm holes),
through. Aquifers serve two primary functions: a geological forces (subsurface erosion, desiccation and
storage function, where water is stored temporarily; syneresis cracks, fractures), or mechanical practices
and a conduit function, where water is translocated (plowing, bores, wells). Macropores are larger than
from one area to another. 0.08 mm in diameter and can conduct large quantities
of water and agrochemicals deeply into the soil.
aquifer recharge - The result from the percolation
of infiltrated precipitation to subsurface water bearing matric potential - The sum of adsorptive forces that
geologic materials. hold water to individual soil particles and capillary
forces that hold water between soil particles. Matric
baseflow - Typical low-flow discharge in streams potential is always negative (or zero when the soil is
in contrast to stormflow that occurs in response to fully saturated) and is strongest in drier soils where the
precipitation events; groundwater discharge drives water is tightly bound to soil particles.
baseflow.
organic matter content - Plant and animal residues,
bulk density - The weight of dry soil (the mass of the cells and tissues, or soil organisms composed of
solid particles) per unit volume of soil. carbon and the substances the organisms synthesize.
depressional storage - Water contained in natural perched water table - A vertically confined but
depressions in the land surface, such as puddles or laterally unconfined water body that forms over a
furrows. restricting layer (see “fragipan,” for example) and is
isolated from the primary groundwater by one or more
exfiltration - Process by which infiltrated water in the
layers of unsaturated soil.
vadose zone reaches the soil surface and creates runoff
or a spring/seep. percolation - The downward movement of water
through saturated soil layers, percolation is responsible
field capacity - The amount of water held in the
for groundwater (aquifer) recharge.
soil 48 hours after a saturating rain. It is what water
remains after excess water has drained away and the permeability - In soil, a measure of the capacity of
rate of downward movement has ceased. the soil to allow fluids to pass through it, expressed as
a velocity.
fragipan - Cemented or densely packed subsurface
soil horizon that prevents water and plant root plant-available water - The water available to
penetration. Fragipans are common to glaciated support plant growth; the difference between field
regions and often increase perched water table capacity and the permanent wilting point.
formation and runoff generation because water cannot
percolate through the layer. porosity - The amount of pore space (air or void
space) between soil particles. Infiltration, groundwater
hydraulic head gradient - The slope of the movement, and storage occur in these void spaces.
groundwater surface in an aquifer. The hydraulic Soils with higher clay content have higher overall
head gradient indicates the direction of groundwater porosity than sands.
flow. Water always flows from higher hydraulic head
gradient to lower hydraulic head gradient. All other relative humidity - A measure of how wet the air
factors being equal, flow is greater when the hydraulic is; defined as the amount of water vapor in the air,
head gradient is steeper. expressed as a percentage of the maximum amount of
water vapor the air can hold at a given temperature.
infiltration - The downward entry and movement of
water through the soil profile.

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restrictive layer - A soil layer of low conductivity transmissivity - The rate at which water can pass
(fragipan, bedrock, clay layer) that prevents vertical through a soil profile at a specific slope; the product of
water movement and fosters the generation of perched soil depth times soil saturated hydraulic conductivity.
water tables, interflow, and runoff.
vadose zone - The typically aerated zone above the
saturated hydraulic conductivity - A measure of the permanent water table; the zone where the soil water is
ability of soil to transmit water when fully saturated; at atmospheric pressure.
similar to permeability.
saturation excess runoff - Occurs when the soil
becomes saturated and any additional precipitation References
cannot be infiltrated or stored by the soil, causing COMET Program. 2005. “Surface Water.” Section
runoff. Four in Understanding the Hydrologic Cycle.
Basic Hydrologic Science Course. University
sheet and rill erosion - Sheet erosion is erosion Corporation for Atmospheric Research. Boulder,
that detaches and removes soil particles more or CO: University Corporation for Atmospheric
less evenly from the soil surface and is caused Research.
primarily by raindrop impact and uniform overland
runoff. Rill erosion forms when overland runoff Shiklomanov, Igor. 1993. “World Fresh Water
becomes channelized as it flows down slope and Resources.” In Water in Crisis: A Guide to the
begins to create small erosional channels (rills) up to World’s Fresh Water Resources, edited by Peter H.
approximately 8 inches deep. Gleick, 13-24. New York: Oxford University Press.
soil moisture content - The amount of water stored Southeast Regional Climate Center. 2012. “Historical
in the soil; primarily influenced by the soil texture and Climate Summaries for Virginia.” Website.
the soil organic matter content. In general, soils with University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. www.
greater silt- and clay-sized particles have higher soil sercc.com/climateinfo/historical/historical_va.html.
moisture content, all else being equal. Likewise, soils
with more organic matter have higher soil moisture WBCSD (World Business Council for Sustainable
content. Development). 2009. Water Facts and Trends.
Version 2. Geneva: WBCSD. www.unwater.org/
solar radiation - The radiation or energy emitted
downloads/Water_facts_and_trends.pdf.
from the sun.
sublimate - The transition of a solid (snow or ice)
directly to a gas (water vapor) without passing through
the liquid phase.
texture - The relative proportions of sand, silt,
and clay that make up a soil. Many soil properties
are influenced by texture, including drainage,
water-holding capacity, aeration, susceptibility to
erosion, organic matter content, cation exchange
capacity, pH buffering capacity, and soil tilth. The
combined fractions of sand, silt, and clay in a soil
determine its textural classification. Sand particles
range in size from 0.05 mm to 2.00 mm, silt ranges
from 0.002 mm to 0.050 mm, and the clay fraction
is made up of particles less than 0.002 mm in
diameter. Once the sand, silt, and clay fractions
are known, the textural class can be read from the
textural triangle. (Soil texture calculator available
at www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/
survey/?cid=nrcs142p2_054167.)

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