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Runoff Volume Formula:
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The Runoff Volume formula calculates the amount of water that flows as surface runoff from a catchment area. It represents the balance between precipitation, evapotranspiration, and changes in soil moisture storage.
The calculator uses the Runoff Volume formula:
Where:
Explanation: The equation accounts for the water balance in a catchment area, where precipitation is the input, and evapotranspiration and soil moisture changes are the outputs/losses.
Details: Accurate runoff volume estimation is crucial for water resource management, flood prediction, irrigation planning, and environmental impact assessments.
Tips: Enter precipitation in mm, actual evapotranspiration in m³/s, and change in soil moisture storage in m³. All values must be non-negative.
Q1: What is the difference between runoff volume and runoff rate?
A: Runoff volume refers to the total amount of water over a period, while runoff rate refers to the flow rate at a specific moment (e.g., m³/s).
Q2: How does soil type affect runoff volume?
A: Sandy soils typically have higher infiltration rates, resulting in less runoff, while clay soils have lower infiltration rates, resulting in more runoff.
Q3: What factors influence actual evapotranspiration?
A: Temperature, humidity, wind speed, solar radiation, and vegetation type all affect evapotranspiration rates.
Q4: How often should these measurements be taken?
A: The frequency depends on the purpose - for flood forecasting, continuous monitoring is needed, while for water budgeting, daily or weekly measurements may suffice.
Q5: Are there limitations to this formula?
A: This simplified formula may not account for complex hydrological processes like groundwater interactions, surface storage, or temporal variations in parameters.