when the rainfall persists or is particularly intense and water drops from the leaves

Water inputs to the drainage basin system as rain

Water leaves the system and turns into vapour in the atmosphere

water is passed out through the leaves of plants and trees.

water flows off the surface of the land when the ground is saturated or impermeable.

rain formed when moist air is forced to rise over high land areas.

water flowing off the land in rivers

The balance between precipitation

water can be held in puddles

is the process by which water soaks into or is absorbed by the soil.

There are no inputs or outputs. E.g. The Hydrological cycle

water can be stored here in rocks and minerals or as groundwater

This is when water moves through the soil.

This means the average times a water molecule will spend in a store.

when water moves down through the soil. It follows natural lines of concentrated flow.

water can be stored here as ice in glaciers and ice sheets as well as frozen parts of the sea.

plants and trees trap rainwater and prevent it from reaching the ground.

Air rises and cools forming rain when the land below heats it

96.5% of all water is stored here.

the downward movement of water into soil and rocks.