The Water Balance

Question 1

How is the water balance worked out?

Answer 1

It is worked out from inputs (precipitation) and outputs (channel discharge and evapotranspiration).

Question 2

What does the water balance show you?

Answer 2

The amount of water stored in a basin.

Question 3

What happens to the water balance in wet seasons?

Answer 3

In wet seasons, precipitation exceeds evapotranspiration. This creates a water surplus. The ground stores fill with water so there’s more surface runoff and higher discharge, so river levels rise.

Question 4

What happens to the water balance in drier seasons?

Answer 4

Precipitation is lower than evapotranspiration. Ground stores are depleted as some water is used and some flows into the river channel, but isn’t replaced by precipitation.

Question 5

What happens at the end of a dry season?

Answer 5

There’s a deficit (shortage) of water in the ground. The ground stores are recharged in the next wet season.