The response of soil moisture content to rainfall events in semi-arid area of Inner Mongolia

Abstract Based on the 2 months’ data of soil moisture and typical meteorological data, using the water balance principle, the dynamics and distribution patterns of the soil moisture caused by rainfall were studied in Taipusi County, a semi-arid area in Inner Mongolia. The results show soil water storage and evapotranspiration differed greatly among different slope positions, gradually reduced from the upper slope position to the lower. The increase of soil water storage decreased from the upper slope positions to the lower when the rainfall occurred, and it was negatively related to initial soil water storage, Additionally, rainfall in the area produced excess-infiltration runoff which increased from the upper slope positions to the lower, areas without vegetation cover were the runoff output areas and areas with vegetation cover were the runoff input areas.