What term means water flowing over the land surface toward streams?

• A. Runoff
• B. Watershed
• C. Infiltration
• D. Evaporation

Answer: (A)

Runoff is water that flows over the land surface toward streams after precipitation. It happens when rainfall is intense or when soils are already saturated, so water can’t infiltrate quickly enough and instead travels across the surface. This surface movement of water can carry pollutants and sediments into streams and rivers. Infiltration is the opposite process, where water soaks into the soil. Evaporation is when water is transformed into vapor and leaves the surface. A watershed, on the other hand, refers to the entire land area that drains to a common outlet, rather than the act of water moving across the land’s surface during a rain event.