Climatic water balance

The climatic water balance (KWB) according to DIN 4049-3 results from the difference between precipitation (P) and potential evapotranspiration (ETp):

${\displaystyle KWB=P-ETp}$

or the difference between the fallen precipitation (N) and the potential landscape evaporation (pLV):

${\displaystyle KWB=N-pLV}$

description

The climatic water balance represents a measure of the water supply in an area and provides an indication of which vegetation can be found in an area. The climatic water balance is hardly suitable for estimating the formation of new groundwater . The potential evapotranspiration is only equal to the actual evapotranspiration (evaporation) in extremely close proximity to the ground, where the water supply for the soil and plants is constantly ensured.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Extreme climates on earth (hygric climatic zones). In: Diercke World Atlas. Retrieved April 5, 2017 .