Hydrology and Water

Resources

Heba Hamad
Content
A list of topics that fall under this heading, we
may discuss:
General Hydrology concepts
Groundwater Hydrology
Surface water Hydrology
 Planning and management issues
Introduction
Hydrology is the science of water:

It is the science that deals with the occurrence,

circulation, and distribution of water of the earth and
earth’s atmosphere.
It is concerned with water in streams and lakes,
rainfall and snowfall, snow and ice on the land, and
groundwater.
Other Definitions:
Hydrology is that natural science that is concerned
with the occurrence, properties, distribution, and
movement of water in the natural and man-made
environment.

Hydrology can be defined as the science concerned

with the occurrence and movement of water, both in
the atmosphere, on the surface and underground.
Introduction
In general, hydrologists deals with:
 Estimation of water resources.
The study of processes such as precipitation, runoff,
evapotranspiration and their interaction.
The study of problems such as floods and droughts
and strategies to combat them.
Hydrologic Cycle
Hydrologic Cycle
The hydrological cycle is the system whereby water is
evaporated from the sea, oceans or lakes, is condensed
into clouds where it falls as precipitation on the land
(or the sea). Water falling on the land may enter the
soil, percolate into groundwater or flow over the land
into rivers usually returning to the sea. Some water
may be evaporated or used by plants and returned to
the atmosphere, and other water may be held in
storage such as lakes or reservoirs.
Catchment Area or Watershed
Catchment area / drainage basin / river basin /
watershed is defined as:
The area drained by a stream or a system of connecting
streams such that the surface runoff originating in this area
leaves the area in concentrated flow through a single outlet.
Catchment boundary or waters
the site At A

Stream Outlet A
Or Station A
Catchment boundary for
the site At B
Stream Outlet B

Tributary
Catchment Area or Watershed
The watershed is simply that area of land that
contributes surface runoff to a common point of
interest.

The river catchment is usually a closed system with

well defined boundaries that allows us to compare the
amount of water entering the system with that leaving
it.
Water Balance Equation
Change in storage = Total inputs – Total losses
Water Balance Equation
Change in storage = Total inputs – Total losses

P P = precipitation
E
T E = evaporation
T = transpiration
R = Surface runoff
R G = groundwater flow
 S = change in storage

P - R - G - E - T = S
Water Balance Calculation Exercise
The data below are for a typical river basin in the
UK. The data are:
Measured rainfall in mm per month
Potential evaporation estimated using the Penman –
method
Runoff ( river flow) for each month in the same units
as rainfall.
Water Balance Calculation Exercise
With this data, calculate:
The water balance in mm for each month
A running water balance for the whole year assuming
that the catchment storage at the start of the year
( water held in lakes and soil moisture) is equivalent to
200 mm of rainfall.
Draw graphs of the monthly and running water
balance.
Water Balance Example