physical variables influencing

• seasons and climate

  • during the winter, temp may drop bellow 0 degrees= water freezes, reduced size of flows and cryosphere increases
  • in summer, flows increase as ice melts, higher temp= more evap
  • climate impacts vegetations thus how much interception and evapotranspiration
  • intense storms more rainfall
• soil

  • infiltration rates influenced by soil type eg large air spaces in sandy soil= more infiltration
  • throughflow faster through openings eg cracks
  • influences type of vegetation
• vegetation

  • intercepts precipitation
  • more water lost via evapotrans
• geology

  • impermeable rocks- higher rates of surface run off
• relief

  • steeper relief= faster flows such as direct run off
  • surface stores have shorter residence time