Elements of the Water Budget

All the PRECIPITATION that falls in one month

Elements of the Water Budget

P
EP

All the PRECIPITATION that falls in one month

The ENERGY available to evaporate water

Potential Evapotranspiration

Elements of the Water Budget

P
EP
P- EP

All the PRECIPITATION that falls in one month

The ENERGY available to evaporate water
If P-EP > 0, then....
Theres water left over
When water is left over after
evaporation, it can do either of 2
things.....
Soak into the ground (infiltrate)
Run off in streams

If P-EP < 0, then....

Theres energy that can still

evaporate more water
Left over energy can look for
more water.....(where?)
In the soil! (called Storage)

Elements of the Water Budget

P
EP
P- EP

St
St

All the PRECIPITATION that falls in one month

The ENERGY available to evaporate water
If P-EP > 0, then....
Theres water left over
When water is left over after
evaporation, it can do either of 2
things.....
Soak into the ground (infiltrate)
Run off in streams
Water stored in the Soil (soil moisture)
When St is (+)...St < maximum, and P>EP
called Recharge

If P-EP < 0, then....

Theres energy that can still

evaporate more water
Left over energy can look for
more water.....(where?)
In the soil! (called Storage)

When St is (-)... St >0 and P<EP

called Usage

Elements of the Water Budget

P
EP
P- EP

St
St
EA

All the PRECIPITATION that falls in one month

The ENERGY available to evaporate water
If P-EP > 0, then....
Theres water left over
When water is left over after
evaporation, it can do either of 2
things.....
Soak into the ground (infiltrate)

If P-EP < 0, then....

Run off in streams

Water stored in the Soil (soil moisture)
When St is (+)...St < maximum, and P>EP
called Recharge

Theres energy that can still

evaporate more water
Left over energy can look for
more water.....(where?)
In the soil! (called Storage)

When St is (-)... St >0 and P<EP

called Usage

Actual amount of water evaporated. EA = EP when P+ St => EP

EA < EP when

P + St < EP

EA > EP when NEVER!

Elements of the Water Budget

P
EP
P- EP

St
St
EA

All the PRECIPITATION that falls in one month

The ENERGY available to evaporate water
If P-EP > 0, then....
Theres water left over
When water is left over after
evaporation, it can do either of 2
things.....
Soak into the ground (infiltrate)

If P-EP < 0, then....

Theres energy that can still

evaporate more water
Left over energy can look for
more water.....(where?)
In the soil! (called Storage)

Run off in streams

Water stored in the Soil (soil moisture)
When St is (+)...St < maximum, and P>EP

When St is (-)... St >0 and P<EP

called Recharge

called Usage

Actual amount of water evaporated. EA = EP when P+ St => EP

EA < EP when

When theres more water than energy

at the end of the month, we say we
have a

SURPLUS

EA > EP when NEVER!

P + St < EP
When theres energy that never finds
water, we say we have a ....

DEFICIT

Elements of the Water Budget

P
EP
P- EP

St
St
EA
S

All the PRECIPITATION that falls in one month

The ENERGY available to evaporate water
If P-EP > 0, then....
Theres water left over
When water is left over after
evaporation, it can do either of 2
things.....
Soak into the ground (infiltrate)

If P-EP < 0, then....

Theres energy that can still
evaporate more water
Left over energy can look for
more water.....(where?)
In the soil! (called Storage)

Run off in streams

Water stored in the Soil (soil moisture)
When St is (+)...St < maximum, and P>EP

When St is (-)... St >0 and P<EP

called Recharge

called Usage

Actual amount of water evaporated. EA = EP when P+ St => EP

EA > EP when NEVER!

EA < EP when P + St < EP

When theres more water than energy
at the end of the month, we say we
have a

SURPLUS

When theres energy that never finds

water, we say we have a ....

DEFICIT

INFILTRATION
Infiltration refers to water soaking into the ground:

Infiltration
rate

Infiltration
rate

Porosity

Infiltration
rate

Permeability

Infiltration
rate

Slope

Soil Storage
Saturation

RUNOFF
Runoff refers to the water that is not evaporated,
and that does not soak into the ground. It is the
water we find in streams.

Runoff occurs during seasons of high

and relatively low

EP

In areas where there is a lot of runoff during one part of the year.....
Rainy season, when theres extra water
and dry and warm during another part of the year.....
When theres plenty of energy but not enough water to satisfy the energy...

RESERVOIRS

can be built to store (or reserve) the runoff for an un-rainy day

The Water (Hydrologic) Cycle

EVAPOTRANSPIRATION

-all the ways that water vapor enters the air

Condensation

Animal Respiration

Transpiration

runoff
Evaporation
infiltration

infiltration
infiltration

Evaporation
runoff