LAB#1

Hydrological cycle

UNDERSTANDING THE GROUND WATER THROUGH

HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE
HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE:
The hydrologic cycle begins with the evaporation of water from the surface of the ocean. As
moist air is lifted, it cools and water vapor condenses to form clouds. Moisture is transported
around the globe until it returns to the surface as precipitation

Water moves up into the sky and back to the ground again in a never-ending cycle. As the suns
rays heat seas, lakes, damp ground, liquid water becomes water vapor and is absorbed into the
air. This process is called evaporation. As warm air rises up into the sky, it cools and condenses
to form clouds. Water droplets fall to earth as rain or snow.
COMPONENTS OF HYROLOGIC CYCLE:
1. Precipitation
Condensed water vapor that falls to the Earth's surface . Most precipitation occurs as rain, but
also includes snow, hail, fog drip, graupel, and sleet. Approximately 505,000 km3 (121,000 cu
mi) of water falls as precipitation each year, 398,000 km3 (95,000 cu mi) of it over the oceans.
The rain on land contains 107,000 km3 (26,000 cu mi) of water per year and a snowing only
1,000 km3 (240 cu mi). 78% of global precipitation occurs over the ocean.

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Hydrological cycle

2. Snowmelt
The runoff produced by melting snow.
3. Runoff
The variety of ways by which water moves across the land. This includes both surface runoff
and channel runoff. As it flows, the water may seep into the ground, evaporate into the air,
become stored in lakes or reservoirs, or be extracted for agricultural or other human uses.
4. Infiltration
The flow of water from the ground surface into the ground. Once infiltrated, the water becomes
soil moisture or groundwater. A recent global study using water stable isotopes, however, shows
that not all soil moisture is equally available for groundwater recharge or for plant transpiration.
5. Subsurface flow
The flow of water underground, in the vadose zone and aquifers. Subsurface water may return to
the surface (e.g. as a spring or by being pumped) or eventually seep into the oceans. Water
returns to the land surface at lower elevation than where it infiltrated, under the force of gravity
or gravity induced pressures. Groundwater tends to move slowly, and is replenished slowly, so it
can remain in aquifers for thousands of years.
6. Evaporation
The transformation of water from liquid to gas phases as it moves from the ground or bodies of
water into the overlying atmosphere. The source of energy for evaporation is primarily solar
radiation. Evaporation often implicitly includes transpiration from plants, though together they
are specifically referred to as evapotranspiration. Total annual evapotranspiration amounts to
approximately 505,000 km3 (121,000 cu mi) of water, 434,000 km3 (104,000 cu mi) of which
evaporates from the oceans.86% of global evaporation occurs over the ocean.
7. Sublimation
The state change directly from solid water (snow or ice) to water vapor
8. Condensation
The transformation of water vapor to liquid water droplets in the air, creating clouds and fog
9. Transpiration
The release of water vapor from plants and soil into the air. Water vapor is a gas that cannot be
seen.

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Hydrological cycle

10. Percolation
Water flows vertically through the soil and rocks under the influence of gravity
11. Plate tectonics
Water enters the mantle via subduction of oceanic crust. Water returns to the surface via
volcanism
BLOCK DIAGRAM OF HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE:

Water balance equation

A general water balance equation is:
P = Q + E + \Delta S
where

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Hydrological cycle

P is precipitation
Q is runoff
E is evapotranspiration
Delta S is the change in storage (in soil or the bedrock)
This equation uses the principles of conservation of mass in a closed system, whereby any water
entering a system (via precipitation), must be transferred into either evaporation, surface runoff
(eventually reaching the channel and leaving in the form of river discharge), or stored in the
ground. This equation requires the system to be closed, and where it isn't (for example when
surface runoff contributes to a different basin), this must be taken into account

WATER DISTRIBUTION ON EARTH

REFERENCES:
http://www.fao.org/wairdocs/ilri/x5524e/x5524e0k.gif
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_cycle
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_balance