ABSTRACT
The hydrological cycle of Mediterranean environments is essentially the same as in any environment and the main characteristics have been described by many authors (Chorley, 1968; Eagleson, 1970; Jones, 1997). We concentrate here on those features that are particular to the Mediterranean. These are driven especially by:
• the intensely seasonal characteristics of the rainfall; • the very strong coupling between climate and vegetation cover and its consequences; • the massive inter-annual variability.
