HYDROLOGY
Is the study of the movement,
distribution, and quality of water on Earth and other planets,
including the hydrologic
cycle, water
resources and
environmental watershed sustainability. A practitioner of hydrology is a
hydrologist, working within the fields of earth or environmental science, physical geography, geology or civil and environmental engineering.
Domains of hydrology include hydrometeorology, surface hydrology, hydrogeology, drainage basin management and water quality, where
water plays the central role. Oceanography and meteorology are not included because water
is only one of many important aspects within those fields.
Hydrological research can inform environmental
engineering, policy and planning.
Branches of hydrology
Chemical hydrology: Is the study of the chemical
characteristics of water.
Eco hydrology: Is the study of interactions between organisms and the hydrologic cycle.
Hydrogeology: Is the study of the presence and movement of ground water.
Eco hydrology: Is the study of interactions between organisms and the hydrologic cycle.
Hydrogeology: Is the study of the presence and movement of ground water.
Hydro Informatics: Is the adaptation of information technology to hidrology and water resources applications.
Hydrometeorology: Is the study of the transfer of water and energy between land and water body surfaces and the lower atmosphere.
Isotope Hydrology: Is the study of the isotopic signatures of water.
Surface hydrology: Is the study of hydrologic processes that operate at or near Earth´s surface.
Drainage basin: Management covers water-storage, in the form of reservoirs, and flood-protection.
Water quality: Includes the chemistry of water in rivers and lakes, both of pollutants and natural solutes.
Hydrologic cycle
All the
amount of water that exists on world is divided into
three main sources: oceans, continents and atmospheres in
which there is a continuous circulation. The movement of
water in the hydrological cycle is maintained by the sun's radiant
energy and the force of gravity. The hydrological cycle is
defined as the sequence of events through which water
passes from the earth's surface in the vapor phase into the
atmosphere and returns to its liquid and solid
phases. The transfer of water from the surface of the Earth
into the atmosphere, water vapor, is due to direct
evaporation, perspiration by plants and animals
and by sublimation (direct passage of solid
water to water vapor).
The hydrological
cycle can be seen, on a planetary scale, as a gigantic
system of distillation spread throughout the planet. The warming
of the tropical regions due to solar radiation causes
continuous evaporation of ocean water, which is
transported in the form of water vapor by the general
circulation of the atmosphere, to other regions. During
transfer, part of the water vapor condenses due to
cooling and forms clouds which cause the precipitation.
The hydrologic cycle
Applications of
hydrology
·
Determining
the water balance of a region.
·
Determining
the agricultural water balance.
·
Mitigating
and predicting flood, landslide and drought risk.
·
Real-time flood forecasting and flood
warning.
·
Designing irrigation schemes and managing agricultural productivity.
·
Part of
the hazard module in catastrophe
modeling.
·
Providing drinking
wáter.
·
Designing dams for water supply or hydroelectric
power generation.
·
Designing bridges.
·
Designing sewers and urban drainage system.
·
Analyzing
the impacts of antecedent
moisture on sanitary sewer
systems.
·
Predicting geomorphological changes, such as erosion or sedimentation.
·
Assessing
the impacts of natural and anthropogenic environmental change on water resources.
·
Assessing contaminant transport risk and establishing
environmental policy guidelines.
