rainfall-runoff
Storm water flow
Rainfall-runoff describes the relationship between precipitation falling on a land surface and the water that flows off it into streams, rivers, or drainage systems.
The term appears mainly in hydrology and civil engineering: rainfall-runoff models help predict flood risk.
Not all rain becomes runoff—some infiltrates the soil, some evaporates—so the ratio varies with terrain, soil type, and saturation.
Drainage area boundary
- catchmentArea collecting water runoff
- drainageLiquid removal system
- streamflowRiver water's measured movement
- dischargeRelease of substance outward
basin · hydrograph · infiltration · precipitation · surface water · storm response · peak flow · tributary
Rapid overflow from storms
- inundationOverwhelming surge of water
- flood warningAlert about rising waters
- flood damageDestruction from rising waters
- emergency responseOrganized action during crises
evacuation · risk assessment · floodwater · downstream · overflow · monsoon flooding · cyclone · rapid onset
Surface flow from precipitation
- culvertTunnel for water passage
- detentionTemporary official holding
- retention pondArtificial basin for stormwater
- flood controlPreventing destructive overflow
sewerage · infrastructure · spillway · levee · floodplain · conveyance · inlet · gutter
Imitation of real processes
- calibrationAdjusting for measurement accuracy
- SWATElite police squad
- lag timeDuration between events
- routingPath selection process
validation · prediction · forecasting · input-output · regression · coefficient · data-driven
watershed
Drainage area boundary
- catchmentArea collecting water runoff
- drainageLiquid removal system
- streamflowRiver water's measured movement
discharge · basin · hydrograph · infiltration · precipitation · surface water · storm response · peak flow · tributary · aquifer
flash flood
Rapid overflow from storms
- inundationOverwhelming surge of water
- flood warningAlert about rising waters
- flood damageDestruction from rising waters
emergency response · evacuation · risk assessment · floodwater · downstream · overflow · monsoon flooding · cyclone · rapid onset · flood forecasting
stormwater
Surface flow from precipitation
- culvertTunnel for water passage
- detentionTemporary official holding
- retention pondArtificial basin for stormwater
flood control · sewerage · infrastructure · spillway · levee · floodplain · conveyance · inlet · gutter · flood mitigation
simulation
Imitation of real processes
- calibrationAdjusting for measurement accuracy
- SWATElite police squad
- lag timeDuration between events
routing · validation · prediction · forecasting · input-output · regression · coefficient · data-driven
rainfall-runoffevapotranspiration
Water loss from land surfaces
retention · water retention · storage · interception · abstraction
rain, fall, run, off, rains, raining, rained, rainy, rainfall