What's the difference between hydrology and

hydraulics?
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5 Answers

Emad Noujeim, Knowledge & science,reader,former teacher,multiple interests

Answered Oct 31 2015 · Author has 1.6k answers and 3.8m answer views
Hydrology is generally related to the study of rainfall and to water in connection to geography
and geology .

Hydraulics is more geared towards physics , the study of the motion of liquids in relation to
disciplines such as fluid mechanics and fluids dynamics , etc.

Some more definitions to clarify the difference between the two words .

Hydrology is "The science which treats of water, its properties and laws, its distribution over the
earth's surface, etc." (From the OED).

Hydrology is the scientific study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water on Earth
and other planets, including the hydrologic cycle, water resources and environmental watershed
sustainability. A practitioner of hydrology is a hydrologist, working within the fields o surface
water hydrology, groundwater hydrology (hydrogeology), and marine hydrology. Domains of
hydrology include hydrometeorology, surface hydrology, hydrogeology, drainage
basinmanagement and water quality, where water plays the central role.
Source : Hydrology

Hydraulics is " That department of science which deals with the conveyance of water or other
liquids through pipes or other artificial channels, and with the various mechanical applications of
the force exerted by moving liquids. Often used in a wider sense, corresponding to what is now
expressed by hydrokinetics or hydrodynamics. " (From the OED) .

Hydraulics is a topic in applied science and engineering dealing with the mechanical properties
of liquids or fluids. At a very basic level, hydraulics is the liquid version of pneumatics. Fluid
mechanics provides the theoretical foundation for hydraulics, which focuses on the engineering
uses of fluid properties. In fluid power, hydraulics are used for the generation, control, and
transmission of power by the use of pressurized liquids. Hydraulic topics range through some
part of science and most of engineering modules, and cover concepts such as pipe flow, dam
design, fluidics and fluid control circuitry, pumps, turbines, hydropower, computational fluid
dynamics, flow measurement, river channel behavior and erosion.
Free surface hydraulics is the branch of hydraulics dealing with free surface flow, such as
occurring in rivers, canals, lakes,estuaries and seas. Its sub-field open channel flow studies the
flow in open channels.
The word "hydraulics" originates from the Greek word ὑδραυλικός (hydraulikos) which in turn
originates from ὕδωρ (hydor, Greek for water) and αὐλός (aulos, meaning pipe).
Source : Hydraulics
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Nazirite Ssembajwe Ronald, Weather Briefer. at Uganda National Meteorological Authority

(2017-present)
Answered Jan 23 2018 · Author has 204 answers and 99.8k answer views

Hydrology is primarily concerned with water on or near the land surface; ocean water are the
domain of oceanography and the marine sciences. Therefore hydrology encompasses the study of
the occurrence and movement of water on and beneath the surface of the earth, the properties of
water, and its relationship with the living and material components of the environment.

Where as;

Hydraulics, branch of science concerned with the practical applications of fluids, primarily
liquids, in motion. It is related to fluid mechanics (q.v.), which in large part provides its
theoretical foundation. Hydraulics deals with such matters as the flow of liquids in pipes, rivers,
and channels and their confinement by dams and tanks.

2k Views · View 4 Upvoters

Rudy Van Drie, works at IAG

Answered Jun 26 2014
Hydrology is the study or science of transforming rainfall amount into quantity of runoff.
Hydraulics is the study or science of taking that quantity of runoff to determine a flood level.
However recent developments allow rainfall to be placed directly onto hydraulic models of entire
catchments resolving both quantity and flood levels in a single pass. One such tool that can do
this is the Free and Open Source Software called ANUGA developed by Geoscience Australia
and the Australian national University.
6.6k Views · View 8 Upvoters

Dona Mathai
Answered Sep 12 2018

Hydraulics solutions have revolutionized the industry and also the working of machines and
vehicles. Hydraulics is a mechanical function that acts by the force of liquid pressure.

Where as hydrology is the scientific study of movement, distribution and quality of water on
earth as well as other planets.

Also you can find more on this at: The difference between hydrology and hydraulics

270 Views

J. Paige Brue, Staff Civil Engineer at GENTERRA Consultants, Inc. (2018-present)

Answered Apr 7 2018

Hydrology is the study of how water moves across land and through the hydrologic cycle. A
hydrologic analysis might involve determining the amount of runoff from a watershed (i.e.,
drainage area) based on the depth and intensity of rainfall and watershed characteristics such as
land cover, topography, etc.

Hydraulics is more concerned with how water is conveyed through pipes, channels and other
hydraulic structures. A hydraulic analysis may involve determining pipe flow or the depth of
flow in a channel.

996 Views · View 5 Upvoters

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What is the difference between choosing

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1 Answer

Robert Gemma, President at MetroWest Engineering (1985-present)

Answered Jan 12, 2015

There is not a huge difference, as there is a lot of overlap between the disciplines. Water resources is a
more generalized topic, focusing on bigger-picture topics such large scale watershed response, regional
planning and design. Hydraulic engineering will focus on the actual design of water distribution systems
and drainage systems, considering both pressure and gravity flow. Hydrology will look at surface water
and groundwater response to rainfall/snowfall events, and focus on things such as flood forecasting and
flood response. But all three disciplines are related and there will be considerable overlap.

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"Hydraulic" redirects here. For other uses, see Hydraulic (disambiguation).

For the mechanical technology, see hydraulic machinery.

Hydraulics and other studies[1]

An open channel, with a uniform depth. Open-channel hydraulics deals with uniform and non-
uniform streams.
Illustration of hydraulic and hydrostatic.[2]

Hydraulics (from Greek: Υδραυλική) is a technology and applied science using engineering,
chemistry, and other sciences involving the mechanical properties and use of liquids. At a very
basic level, hydraulics is the liquid counterpart of pneumatics, which concerns gases. Fluid
mechanics provides the theoretical foundation for hydraulics, which focuses on the applied
engineering using the properties of fluids. In its fluid power applications, hydraulics is used for
the generation, control, and transmission of power by the use of pressurized liquids. Hydraulic
topics range through some parts of science and most of engineering modules, and cover concepts
such as pipe flow, dam design, fluidics and fluid control circuitry. The principles of hydraulics
are in use naturally in the human body within the vascular system and erectile tissue.[3][4] Free
surface hydraulics is the branch of hydraulics dealing with free surface flow, such as occurring in
rivers, canals, lakes, estuaries and seas. Its sub-field open-channel flow studies the flow in open
channels.

The word "hydraulics" originates from the Greek word ὑδραυλικός (hydraulikos) which in turn
originates from ὕδωρ (hydor, Greek for water) and αὐλός (aulos, meaning pipe).