Final answer:
Runoff moves various materials, including minerals like carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur, eroded soil, sediment, nutrients, and pollutants from land to water systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
The materials moved by runoff include a range of substances that can be transported from the land into water systems following precipitation events. This occurs as rain and surface runoff act as major agents in the cycling of minerals such as carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur from terrestrial to aquatic ecosystems. During heavy rains, surface runoff can increase significantly, carrying with it eroded soil, sediment, and nutrients, as well as potential pollutants like pesticides into rivers and streams. Vegetation usually intercepts a substantial amount of rainfall, but excess water can lead to soil saturation, resulting in overland flow. This flow may pick up materials such as large rocks, organic material, and anthropogenic debris, contributing to the geological and ecological dynamics of the landscape.