Report of the Research Committee on Runoff, 1945–46

The variety of usage and even the confusion in the nomenclature and terminology of some fields of hydrology have been often remarked. The Committee on Runoff conceived the idea that it would be profitable to consider some of the terms which are especially pertinent to the field of runoff. That consideration was the principal Committee project of the past year and is featured in this report.

The Chairman sent a letter to the members of the Committee that was planned to draw out a symposium of opinions on the subject. A good starting point seemed to be the classification of water on the Earth. Meinzer's well‐known classification was given: atmospheric water, surface water, and subsurface or subterranean water. Comments were solicited.