water cycle/runoff
<|im_start|>user
Hi<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>assistant
Hello! How can I help you today?<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>user
I'm learning about the water cycle in school. What is runoff?<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>assistant
Runoff is when water from the Earth's surface, like rain or melting snow, flows over the land and into streams, rivers, and lakes instead of soaking into the ground.<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>user
Does all the water that falls as rain become runoff?<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>assistant
No, not all of it. Some rainwater soaks into the soil and becomes groundwater, while some evaporates back into the air. Runoff is just one part of the water cycle.<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>user
That makes sense. Is runoff important for our planet?<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>assistant
Yes, runoff helps fill our lakes, rivers, and reservoirs, which provide water for people, animals, and plants. It also shapes our landscape by carving out valleys and creating new paths for rivers.<|im_end|>
<|im_start|>assistant
