Hydrology

Hydrology Is The Scientific Study Of Water And The Hydrologic Cycle. This Includes The Study Of Water Distribution, Water Quality, And Water Resources Management Along With The Methods Of Transport, Exchange, And Storage Of Water In Both Natural And Man-Made Systems. Hydrology Is Closely Associated With Field Measurements, Laboratory Analysis, And Theoretical Modeling To Predict And Manage Water Resources In A Sustainable Manner. Traditional Hydrology Is Focused On The Surface Water Portion Of The Hydrologic Cycle. It Deals With Runoff, Stream Channels, Rivers, Lakes, And Reservoirs. Surface Water Hydrology Looks To Analyze How The Quality And Quantity Of Water Is Affected By The Physical Environment, Acts Of Man, And The Dynamics Of The Water System. It Also Focuses On The Distribution, Transport, And Storage Of Water In The Environment. This Includes The Cycling Of Water From The Atmosphere To The Earth’s Surface And Back As Well As How Water Movement From Rivers, Estuaries, Lakes, And Oceans Is Affected By Geological And Biological Processes. An Important Part Of Surface Water Hydrology Is The Study Of River Systems. This Includes Understanding The Variability In River Flow Due To Precipitation, Evaporation And Evapotranspiration, Channel Dimensions, Landscape Characteristics, As Well As The Interactions Between The Water And Sediment In The System. A River’s Characteristics Are Determined By Its Topography And Land Use, And Can Be Affected By Deforestation, Land Development, Land Use Change, And Human Activity. Groundwater Hydrology Is Also An Important Aspect Of The Study Of Water. It Deals With The Natural Storage Of Water Beneath The Earth’s Surface And The Movement Of Water Through Different Layers Of Soil And Rocks. This Includes Understanding The Hydraulic Properties Of Soil And Rocks, The Interaction Between The Groundwater And Surface Water, And The Impacts Of Human Activities On Groundwater Resources. Both Surface Water And Groundwater Hydrology Are Important To Understand How Water Is Managed And Used In A Sustainable Way. The Study Of Hydrology Is Important In Helping To Understand The Effects Of Climate Change, Population Growth, And Human Activities On Our Water Resources. Hydrologists Develop Models And Provide Data And Information To Help Water Resource Managers Make Decisions About Water Resources And Plan For Future Water Resource Needs.