Final answer:
Ground water that emerges at the Earth's surface is called a discharge point, which is exemplified by springs. This occurrence is different from runoff, where precipitation flows over the land's surface directly into bodies of water.
Step-by-step explanation:
Places where ground water leaves the system to become surface water are called discharge points. Discharge points can take the form of springs, where groundwater naturally emerges at the surface. The groundwater that emerges at these discharge points may have originated from precipitation that infiltrated the ground and became part of an aquifer before flowing out into lakes, rivers, or the ocean. This process contrasts with runoff, which is precipitation that flows over the land's surface without infiltrating the ground, eventually collecting in bodies of water.