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