Surface Water Runoff Modeling

This activity provides you with an authentic problem that faces many scientists, politicians and citizens everyday: Rainfall runoff. This produces flooding and other problems, which results in millions of dollars of damage to property, farmlands, houses, and businesses each year. In extreme cases, surface water runoff can result in injury or death to humans and other living creatures.

This lesson will help you understand why water runs off during a storm. You will learn how plants and building effect the amount of water that runs off a piece of land. You will use a computer model to evaluate the effect of converting a farm or forest to residential or commercial use.

Before you begin your work, it is important for you to read carefully most, if not all, of the scenario materials. Good luck!

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