What is the role of infiltration in the water cycle?
As infiltration divides water resources into surface and subsurface water, it is a key process in the hydrological cycle. The infiltration depends on the availability of water at the soil surface and on soil characteristics which influence the water retention capacity and hydraulic conductivity.
What is the infiltration process of the water cycle?
Infiltration is the physical process involving movement of water through the boundary area where the atmosphere interfaces with the soil. The surface phenomenon is governed by soil surface conditions. Water transfer is related to the porosity of the soil and the permeability of the soil profile.
What is infiltration explain?
Infiltration is the process by which water on the ground surface enters the soil. Infiltration rate in soil science is a measure of the rate at which a particular soil is able to absorb rainfall or irrigation. It is measured in inches per hour or millimeters per hour. The rate decreases as the soil becomes saturated.
What is an example of infiltration in the water cycle?
Anywhere in the world, a portion of the water that falls as rain and snow infiltrates into the subsurface soil and rock. Water may travel long distances or remain in groundwater storage for long periods before returning to the surface or seeping into other water bodies, such as streams and the oceans.
Where does infiltration water go?
Infiltration and percolation Water infiltrates the soil by moving through the surface. Percolation is the movement of water through the soil itself. Finally, as the water percolates into the deeper layers of the soil, it reaches ground water, which is water below the surface.
What is a good infiltration rate?
Annex 2 Infiltration rate and infiltration test
| Soil type | Basic infiltration rate (mm/hour) |
|---|---|
| sand | less than 30 |
| sandy loam | 20 – 30 |
| loam | 10 – 20 |
| clay loam | 5 – 10 |