Definition of Hydrology

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Definition of Hydrology

• Hydrology is the science dealing with the
  waters of the earth, their occurrence,
  distribution and circulation, their chemical and
  physical properties and their interaction with
  the environment

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Course Outline
This course encompasses major hydrological
processes, including precipitation, evaporation,
transpiration, rainfall interception, soil water,
ground water, and runoff. The emphasis of this
course will be on the basic principles of these
physical processes forming the complete
hydrological cycle at global, regional and
watershed scales. A series of 4 assignments are
given for students to gain practical skills in
hydrological analysis.
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Why Do We Study Hydrology?Water is the
essential ingredient of all life on Earth

• Natural Hazards
• Water Supply
• Important Component of Earths System
• Profound Human Impacts

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Water Supply

• Dinking and sanitation
• Irrigation
• Industry and power generation
• Transportation
• Water supply is limited by the small fraction of
  fresh water on Earth, but the demand is
  increasing due to various reasons
• Increasing population
• Increasing urbanization
• Increasing agricultural and industrial
  production
• The global demand for water is now about 3500
  km3/year

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Water is an important component of the Earth
environment system

• 1. Biosphere
• Vegetation distribution
• Plant growth
• Indirect effects on global climate
• 2. Lithosphere
• Significant geomorphic agent
• Topography resulting from tectonics determines
  water distribution
• Plate tectonics determines distribution of
  oceans
• 3. Atmosphere
• Fundamental in redistribution of energy
• Most important greenhouse gas affecting climate
• Sea level

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Human activities directly affect local, regional
and global hydrology

• Direct effects of extraction (ground water, river
  water, lake water, etc.)
• Deforestation
• Urban development