Infiltration
Topic: Oceans: Hydrological Cycle, Relief of the Ocean Floor, Temperature and Salinity · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 12 "Water (Oceans)"
Meaning
Infiltration is water soaking into the soil from the surface. It refills soil moisture and groundwater (water stored under the ground). How much water soaks in depends on the type of soil, the slope, the plant cover and how hard the rain falls. Loose soil, gentle slopes and thick plant cover help water soak in. Paved ground lets very little water in, so more water runs off and floods get worse.
Example
In Mumbai, roads and buildings cover much of the ground. During heavy monsoon rain, little water can soak in, so streets flood quickly.
Don't confuse with
- Surface runoff: this is the water that flows over the land into streams. Infiltration is the water that goes down into the soil instead.