What occurs when precipitation exceeds infiltration and water washes off quickly?

When precipitation exceeds infiltration, it means that the ground is unable to absorb all the water falling as rain or snow. As a result, any excess water flows across the surface of the ground rather than being absorbed. This phenomenon is known as surface runoff. It occurs particularly in areas where the soil is saturated, compacted, or when there is impermeable ground cover like concrete. Surface runoff is significant as it can lead to soil erosion, flooding, and the transportation of sediments and pollutants into water bodies.

The other options refer to different processes. Groundwater flow pertains to the movement of water through the soil and rock layers below the surface, which does not directly relate to the situation where precipitation is exceeding infiltration. Leaching involves the process by which soluble materials are washed out of the soil, typically due to percolating water rather than surface movement. Waterlogging describes a situation where soil is completely soaked with water, inhibiting plant growth, but it does not occur as a direct consequence of excess precipitation washing off quickly. Therefore, surface runoff is the accurate term for the condition described when excess precipitation leads to water moving rapidly across the surface.