Noor M Khan

2014

Introduction: Hydrology, hydrologic cycle and the hydrologic

equation, practical uses of hydrology, importance of
hydrology.
Meteorology: The atmosphere and its composition, relative
humidity, dew point and their measurement devices.
Saturation deficit. Solar radiation as a source of heat,
adiabatic changes and the lapse rate, air temperature,
seasonal and diurnal variation of air temperature. The general
circulation of wind system, the monsoons and western
disturbances. Measurement of air temperature, relative
humidity, radiation, sunshine and atmospheric pressure.
Precipitation: Types of precipitation, factors necessary for the
formation of precipitation, measurement of precipitation,
interpretation of precipitation data.

Evaporation and Transpiration: Factors affecting evaporation,

measurement of evaporation, evapo-transpiration.
Stream Flow: Water stage and its measurement, selection of site for
stage record, selection of control and metering section, methods of
measurement of stream flow, interpretation of stream flow data.
Runoff: Factors affecting runoff, estimating the volume of storm
runoff.
Hydrographs: Characteristic of Hydrograph, components of a
hydrograph, hydrograph separation, estimating the volume of direct
runoff, introduction to unit hydrograph concept, S-curve,
Application of probability in determining maxima/minima of
discharge. Types of histogram and distribution.
Stream Flow Routing Introduction to flood frequency and duration
analysis. Reservoir routing, channel routing.
Ground Water Flow: Introduction, sources and discharge of ground
water. Water table and artesian aquifer. The Theis formula and its
application to aquifer tests. Reservoir sedimentation. Factors
controlling erosion, sediment rating curves. Sediment yield of a
catchment, sedimentation in reservoirs.

i). Awan N. M, (1981), Surface Water Hydrology (Vol-1),

National Book Foundation, Islamabad Pakistan.
ii). Chown Ven Te, David R. Maidment, Larry W. Mays,
(1988), Applied Hydrology, McGraw Hill Book
International Edition.
iii). Linsley Ray K, Kohler Max A, Joseph L.H Paulhus,
(1982), Hydrology for Engineering (3rd Edition).

Iv). Maidment David R, (1993), Hand Book of Hydrology.

v). Wilson E.M. (1984), Engineering Hydrology.

Definition:
Literal meaning:
The term Hydrology is from Greek:

hydr = "water + logos ="study".

say Study of Water
more specifically Study of Water in
Hydrological Cycle

Hydrology is science of waters of the earth, their

circulation and distribution over the globe, their
physical and chemical properties and their
interaction with the physical and biological
environment.
Ref: MN Awan, 1981

Hydrology treats of the waters of the Earth, their

occurrence, circulation and distribution, their
chemical and physical properties, and their
reaction with their environment, including their
relation to the living things. Ref: Linsley, Kohlar and Paulhus(1988)

1st General Perspective on the Hydrosphere

2nd Groundwater
3rd Surface water

Although groundwater is
not very globally
significant in volume, it is
a critical source of
domestic water, because it
is part of the limited

budget of fresh (nonsaline) water.

It can be viewed as a

partially-renewable
resource:
It is possible to withdraw it
faster than nature
recharges it.

WHY HYDROLOGY IS IMPORTANT

Of total world water, 97.5% is salty water and only 2.5% is
freshwater of which useable freshwater accounts for about
0.5%
Of the 0.5% useable freshwater, irrigation accounts for 70%,
industry 20% and household 10%
Demand for and use of freshwater has tripled over the past
half century, as world population has grown from 2.5 to 6.45
billion people
By 2025 global water needs will increase with 40% more
required for cities and 20% for growing crops
The satellite photos show major freshwater depletion taking
place on all continents, notably in the Dead Sea, the Aral Sea,
Lake Chad, the Mesopotamian Marshlands, the Everglades and
other water sources
According to UNESCO estimates, by 2030 global demands for
fresh water will exceed the supply with potentially disastrous
consequences
Sources: Asian Development Bank; BBC; Earth Observatory; UNEP; UNESCO

WHY HYDROLOGY IS IMPORTANT

Water withdrawals are causing major riverssuch as the
Colorado, the Nile, the Yellow Riversto run dry in sections, lakes
to vanish and groundwater tables and aquifers to drop in many
places
Over the next 20 years, average water supply per person is
estimated to drop by a third, potentially endangering human
health, agriculture and the environment
Water volume in the Aral sea has dropped by about 80% since
1960s, due to extensive irrigation primarily for cotton production
Current water levels in Lake Victoria are below normal and the
lowest level since September 1961
In 2002, around 3.16 billion people (82%) in the Asia Pacific
region had access to improved water supplies, up from 74% in
1990
Water pollution is a serious threat to the worlds water supply
Sources: Asian Development Bank; BBC; Earth Observatory; UNEP; UNESCO

The area of land that

drains water, sediment
and dissolved materials
to a common outlet.
Watersheds are
separated by divides

Can be any size, from a

few acres to hundreds
of square miles
Sub-watershed =
watershed within a
watershed

Smallest
tributaries
are 1st order
Two 1st
orders join to
form 2nd
order
Two 2nd
orders join to
form 3rd
order, etc.

Ref: Chow, 1988, Applied Hydrolog

use of water in 20th century has grown dramatically

Inventory of water on Earth

Water on land
3%

Lakes, soil moisture,

atmosphere, rivers
Deep groundwater
1%
(750-4000 m)
Shallow groundwater
(<750 m)

14%

11%

74%
97%
Ice caps and glaciers
Oceans

After Berner and Berner, 19

The Water (Hydrologic) Cycle

The volume (M) of water at the surface of the Earth

is enormous: 1.37 109 km3! (total reservoir) The
Oceans cover 71% of the Earths surface (29% for
the continent masses above sea level)
Reservoir
Biosphere

Volume (km3)
0.6 103

Rivers
Atmosphere
Lakes
Groundwater
Glacial and other land ice (?)
Oceanic water and sea ice

Total

% Total
0.00004

1.7 103
13 103
125 103
9500 103
29000 103

0.0001
0.001
0.01
0.68
2.05

1,370,000 103

97.25

1,408,640 103

Adapted from Berner & Berner (The Global Water Cycle; Prentice Hall, 1987)

100

Of total yearly evaporation, 84% evaporates from the Oceans and 16%
from surface of continents.
However, return to Earth via precipitation: 75% falls directly on the
Oceans and 25% on the continents.
During the year, the atmosphere transports 9% of Oceans evaporation
to the continents!
This water is returned via surface streams and as groundwater

Precipitation in the form

of transparent or translucent pellets of ice, which
are round or irregular in shape. They have a
diameter of 0.2 inches (5 mm) or less. They are
classified into two types: hard grains of ice
consisting of frozen rain drops or largely melted
and refrozen snowflakes; pellets of snow encased
in a thin layer of ice which have formed from
the freezing of droplets intercepted by pellets or
water resulting from the partial melting of
pellets. Related term is Sleet

Frozen precipitation in the form of white or

translucent ice crystals in complex branched
hexagonal form. It most often falls from
stratiform clouds, but can fall as snow
showers from cumuliform ones. It usually
appears clustered into snowflakes.

Standard Rain
gauge of US
National Weather
Service

Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rain_gauge

Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rain_gauge

Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rain_gauge

Ref: http://www.weathershop.com/logging_rain_gauge.htm

Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rain_gauge#mediaviewer/File:Tipping_Bucket_Recorder.JPG