Question

when precipitation hits the ground, water flows over the surface of the earth; hot spring; divide; non - point source pollution; runoff

Explanation:

The question is about what happens when precipitation hits the ground and water flows over the earth's surface. The term for this process is "Runoff", as it refers to the flow of water, from rain, snowmelt, or other sources, over the land surface, which matches the description. "Hot spring" is a natural spring of water at a high temperature, "Divide" is a ridge separating watersheds, and "Non - point source pollution" is pollution from diffuse sources, so they don't fit.

Answer:

Runoff