Flows

• There are at least seven different flows that are important in transferring the precipitation that has fallen on the land into the drainage network. 
• Interception


  The retention of water by plants and soils which is subsequently evaporated or absorbed by the vegetation.
• Infiltration


  The process by which water soaks into, or is absorbed by, the soil.
• Percolation


  Similar to infiltration, but a deeper transfer of water into permeable rocks.
• Throughflow


  The lateral transfer of water downslope through the soil.
• Groundwater flow


  The very slow transfer of percolated water through pervious (permeable) or porous rocks.
• Surface runoff


  The movement of water that is unconfined by a channel across the surface of the ground. i.e. overland flow.
• River or channel flow


  Takes over as soon as the water enters a river or stream; the flow is confined within a channel.