8. Effective Rainfall

Try these first

1. 1.

   Define effective rainfall.

   Hint

   Think about what happens to rainfall before it contributes to runoff.

2. 2.

   What factors are excluded when calculating effective rainfall?

   Hint

   Consider the processes that consume rainfall before it contributes to runoff.

3. 3.

   What is effective rainfall?

   • Rainfall that accounts for all precipitation
   • Rainfall that leads to surface runoff
   • Rainfall that is intercepted by vegetation

   Hint

   Remember, it's what flows directly to water bodies.

4. 4.

   True or False: Effective rainfall includes losses due to interception.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Clarify what loss factors are considered and ideally excluded.

5. 5.

   A rainfall event in a catchment results in 100 mm of total rainfall. If 20 mm is intercepted by vegetation and 30 mm infiltrates into the ground, calculate the effective rainfall.

   Hint

   Remember the formula E = R - I - P.

6. 6.

   Discuss how changes in land cover (like deforestation) might affect effective rainfall in a watershed. Consider impacts like runoff and soil moisture.

   Hint

   Think about how vegetation affects rainfall absorption and runoff rates.