BRIEF REVISION - HYDROLOGY - 03. INTERCEPTION

BRIEF REVISION - HYDROLOGY - 03. INTERCEPTION

1. AS GEOGRAPHY BRIEF REVISION HYDROLOGY 03 INTERCEPTION

2. INTERCEPTION Interception is the process by which raindrops are prevented from falling directly on to the soil surface by the presence of a layer of vegetation. Water is intercepted by plant leaves, stems and branches particularly in the tree layer but also by species in the shrub or field layer.

3. THROUGHFALL AND STEMFLOW During prolonged or heavy rain, the capacity of the plant surfaces may be exceeded and water will drip off the leaves and branches ( throughfall ) and will run along branches and down the trunk ( stemflow ).

4. EVAPORATION AS INTERCEPTION LOSS Evaporation will remove some of the water held on the leaves and this is referred to as interception loss .

5. EXAM QUESTION Define interception. ANSWER ON THE NEXT PAGE

6. EXAM ANSWER Interception refers to precipitation that is collected and stored by vegetation. ANSWER ON THE NEXT PAGE