We have already introduced the hydrologic cycle and understand water flows such as precipitation, evapotranspiration, and runoff. In this section, we want to focus on runoff, especially the ways in which runoff can act to erode, transport, and deposit sediments across the earth's surface. C. Runoff from continents occurs as both surface flow and groundwater flow. Where the water table intersects the earth's surface, we find features like springs, streams, rivers, and lakes. Overland flow erodes sediments from slopes and delivers them to stream valleys.
Some precipitation returns to the atmosphere as evaporation.
This dominates in arid regions. Intercepted rainwater gradually moves to soil by stemflow and drip. Some precipitation infiltrates the soil surface and becomes soil water or groundwater. Some precipitation flows overland as sheetwash. Unconfined to channels.