Geo-terms

Evapotranspiration- The loss of water directly from the ground, water surfaces and vegetation. Evaporation is thephysical process where moisture is lost directly into the atmosphere from water surfaces and the soil due to heat and air movement. Transpiration is thebiological process where water is lost from a plant through stomata on its leaves.
Precipitation- Rainfall on an area. This is the greatest contributer of water in the water cylce and drainage basin system.   Generally the greater the intensity of a storm the shorter its duration.
Interception- When water is stopped from reaching the ground by factors such as vegetation. At the start of a rainfall the vegetation will shelter the ground below, this is greater in a wooded area or where tree crops are grown. If there is enough vegetation and the rainfall is short or light then much if the water may never meet the ground.
Infiltration- I most areas overland flow is rare due to the soil taking in water. The maximum rate at which water can pass through the soil is called its infilltration capacity, the rate of infilltration depending on the amount of water already in the soil, and the structure and type of the soil.
Percolation- Percolation is the constant movement of water through the underlaying soil and rock, the action of which creates ground water storage. Water may be transferred laterally as groundwater flow or baseflow.
Channel flow- Although some rain does not reach the river the majority does through either surface run-off, throughflow or groundwater flow. Once in the river its is known as channel flow.