I am also a scientist, retired, here is a simple equation.... No roof + water = wet I am also curious when it comes to why things happen, or how things work. A teacher we had in Physics always told us to " go back to first principles when trying to make sense of anything."
In my Mog the mantra is...reduce the incoming water as much as reasonably practical then deal with the remainder in the simplest way. Kitchen roll and camping/ trecking towels that stow into small size work well. That " one sheet" stuff advertised on TV is exactly that....sheet!