The Water Balance Flashcards
What is the formula for precipitation?
P = Q + E +/- S P = precipitation Q = river run off E = evapotranspiration S = storage in soil and rocks
What is water surplus?
Where precipitation exceeds evapotranspiration. The soil water store is full and there is excess for plants, groundwater recharge and runoff.
What is utilisation?
Evapotranspiration water stores are being used up by plants or lost by evaporation.
What is recharge?
Precipitation exceeds evapotranspiration, the soil begins to fill up from infiltration.
What is deficit?
All soil moisture has been utilised and plants will either wilt or adapt to survive in dry conditions.
When does soil moisture recharge occur?
October through to February.
When does soil moisture utilisation happen?
May through to August.
When does soil moisture deficit happen?
August and September. (time of droughts)
When does soil moisture surplus happen?
February through to May. (time of floods)
