Antecedent soil moisture
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Antecedent soil moisture is a term used in surface-water hydrology in reference to runoff prediction and in process geomorphology in reference to fluvial patterns in drainage basins.
Soil retains a degree of moisture after a rainfall event. This residual water moisture affects the soil's infiltration capacity. During the next rainfall event, the infiltration capacity will cause the soil to be saturated at a different rate. The higher the level of antecedent soil moisture, the more quickly the soil becomes saturated. Once the soil is saturated, runoff will occur.
