physical factors effecting drainage basin

• relief -

  • steeper land = faster surface run off
  • water reaches storage quicker
• vegetation-

  • less plants = less interception =less leaves take in water = more surface run off + groundwater
• drainage basin size -

  • smaller = water passes through faster
  • larger may mean greater water volumes entering system
• rock type -

  • permeable = water passes through = high percolation
  • impermeable = water cant percolate = surface run off
• soil type -

  • sandy permeable soil = high infiltration= less flooding
  • clay impermeable soils = stops infiltration= more floods
• climate -

  • prolonged rainfall = ground becomes saturated and cant infiltrate = surface run off
  • intense storms on hard surfaces = surface run off
  • snowfall = temps rise , snow melts and if ground frozen, infiltration prevented = sheet wash
  • heat = increased evaporation and transpiration = determines water loss in system