Explain three factors that influence surface runoff and describe the hydrological cycle using arrows K, L, and M.

a) i) The diagram showing the hydrological cycle with arrows K, L, and M is not provided, so I cannot identify what they represent.

ii) Here are three factors that influence the occurrence of surface runoff:

• Rainfall intensity and duration: If rainfall is very heavy or lasts for a long time, the ground may not be able to absorb all the water, leading to increased surface runoff.
• Soil type: Soils with low permeability, such as clay, absorb water slowly. This means that during rainfall, water is more likely to flow over the surface as runoff compared to highly permeable soils like sand.
• Vegetation cover: Areas with dense vegetation have less surface runoff because plants intercept rainfall, and their roots help water infiltrate the soil. Bare ground or sparsely vegetated areas have higher runoff.