gen-briefly-explain-infiltration-capacity-and-one-common-misconc-0bcb

Briefly explain infiltration capacity and one common misconception about it.

# Infiltration Capacity **Infiltration capacity** is the maximum rate at which soil can absorb water under specific conditions. It's typically measured in inches or millimeters per hour and decreases over time during a rainfall event as the soil becomes saturated. ## Common Misconception A frequent misconception is that **infiltration capacity is constant for a given soil type**. In reality, infiltration capacity is highly dynamic and changes during a storm event. It starts high when soil is dry, then decreases rapidly as: - Pores fill with water - Soil particles swell - Air becomes trapped - Surface sealing occurs This means the same soil can have very different infiltration rates depending on its initial moisture content, rainfall intensity, and duration of the event. The actual infiltration rate at any moment is the *lesser* of the infiltration capacity or the rainfall intensity.