What is the name for the phenomenon where precipitation exceeds the land’s capacity to absorb it?

The phenomenon where precipitation exceeds the land's capacity to absorb it is known as flooding. This occurs when heavy rainfall or continuous precipitation saturates the ground, preventing additional water from being absorbed. As a result, excess water accumulates on the surface, leading to an overflow of rivers, streams, and lakes. Flooding can cause significant damage to infrastructure, ecosystems, and communities.

In contrast, evaporation refers to the process by which water changes from a liquid to a vapor, and drought describes a prolonged period of unusually low rainfall leading to water shortages. Surface runoff is the water that flows over the ground's surface rather than soaking into the soil, but it is a component of flooding rather than a phenomena on its own. Understanding these concepts helps clarify why flooding is specifically linked to the saturation of land and excess precipitation.