Surface water

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Surface Water

Surface water (pronunciation: /ˈsɜːrfɪs ˈwɔːtər/) is water that is present on the Earth's surface, such as in a river, lake, or ocean. It can be contrasted with subsurface water and atmospheric water.

Etymology

The term "surface water" originates from the English words "surface" and "water". "Surface" comes from the Old French surfaix meaning "overface" and "water" comes from the Old English wæter.

Definition

Surface water is water that collects on the ground or in a stream, river, lake, wetland, or ocean; it is related to water collecting as groundwater or atmospheric water. Surface water is naturally replenished by precipitation and naturally lost through discharge to the oceans, evaporation, evapotranspiration and subsurface seepage.

Related Terms

  • Groundwater: Water that is found underground in the cracks and spaces in soil, sand, and rock.
  • Precipitation: Any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity.
  • Evaporation: The process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas or vapor.
  • Evapotranspiration: The process by which water is transferred from the land to the atmosphere by evaporation from the soil and other surfaces and by transpiration from plants.
  • Subsurface seepage: The flow of water that occurs below the ground surface.

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