Hydrology / watershed models listed in this inventory are generally used in the simulation of components of or the entire water cycle. They are primarily used for hydrologic prediction and for understanding hydrologic processes. Specific component processes of the water cycle simulated include (1) Precipitation – condensed atmospheric water falling to earth (2) Evaporation – phase transition of a liquid to a gas (3) Transpiration – movement of water within and out of plants into the atmosphere (4) Infiltration – water entering soil from the ground surface (5) Runoff – flow of water over the earth’s surface (6) Interflow – flow of water within the soil layer(s) (8) Routing – the movement of water “downstream”. In addition to water quantity and flow, most of these models also can be used in water quality studies and are able to determine the origin and fate of various water quality parameters in a watershed.
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