3 fates of precipitation
Evaporate and return to the atmosphere as water vaporIt can sink into the soil and then into the surface rock below It can run off the land
Precipitation is the process in which water droplets or ice crystals from clouds on the atmosphere fall to the surface of the earth. The three fates of precipitation are:
1. Infiltration: Infiltration is the process in which precipitation penetrates and seeps into the surface of the earth. Infiltration is an essential process for recharging groundwater systems, which are important sources of freshwater for human consumption and agriculture. The rate of infiltration depends on the type of soil, vegetation cover, and precipitation intensity.
2. Runoff: Runoff is the process in which precipitation flows over the surface of the earth into rivers, lakes, and oceans. This occurs when precipitation falls on impermeable surfaces like concrete or asphalt, or when the rate of precipitation exceeds the infiltration capacity of the soil. In urban areas, runoff can cause flooding and water pollution if it contains pollutants and debris from roads and buildings.
3. Evaporation: Evaporation is the process in which precipitation returns to the atmosphere as water vapor. This occurs when precipitation falls on the surface of a body of water or moist soil and is heated by the sun. Evaporation is an important component of the water cycle, which drives the movement of water from the oceans to the atmosphere, to the land, and back to the oceans again.