Snow can become ice and remain stored on the mountains for long periods. Rainfall falling on the land may be intercepted by vegetation and return through evaporation to the atmosphere. Rainfall reaching the ground partially infiltrates and partially forms surface runoff. Infiltrated water may percolate deep into the ground to reach the groundwater table or may be taken up by vegetation and return to the atmosphere through transpiration. Groundwater flow and surface runoff meet and recharge lakes and rivers.
Evaporation takes place from all open water bodies.
Water remains stored for long or short period of time as ice, in lakes, as groundwater, in channels, as depression storage and interception. Storage Groundwater flow Baseflow Interflow Overland flow Channel flow Water table Saturated zone Unsaturated zone 2.