What does an increase in soil saturation typically lead to?

An increase in soil saturation typically leads to increased runoff because when soil becomes saturated, it reaches a point where it can no longer absorb additional water. This excess water that cannot be infiltrated into the soil will move across the surface of the land until it finds a lower elevation. As the soil becomes more saturated, the water table rises, and gravitational forces cause the runoff to collect and flow into streams, rivers, or other bodies of water.

In contrast, when soil is not saturated, it has a greater capacity to absorb water, which results in lower runoff levels. Saturation effectively decreases the ability of the soil to hold more water, leading to a higher volume of water flowing over the surface instead of being absorbed. This process can lead to issues such as flooding in areas with high saturation levels.