Engineering Hydrology

(ECIV 4323)

CHAPTER 1:
INTRODUCTION

Instructor:

Dr. Said Ghabayen

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 1.1 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.
- It is of inter-disciplinary nature.

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 … 1.1 Introduction
In general, hydrology 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.

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 1.2. Hydrologic Cycle

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 - Hydrologic Cycle Processes

Processes
Atmospheric water
Precipitation

Evaporation
Land Surface
Infiltration Surface Water
Soil water
Surface Runoff

Groundwater Recharge Groundwater

(Percolation)
Baseflow

System
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 1.3. Water Budget
Catchment Area or Watershed?

Catchment area or drainage basin or river basin or 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 watershed or divide for

the site At A

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

Tributary

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Wadi Gaza:
Estimated
average
annual flow =
15 MCM / yr

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 Water budget equation
System Concept
Hydrologic analysis for various applications and models begins with the system concept.

System Boundary

SYSTEM
INPUTS OPERATORS OUTPUTS

Vi – V0 =  S
I - Q =  S/ t (change in storage with
respect to time)
I = inflow volume per unit time
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 Typical Water Budget System Components
P P = precipitation
E
T E = evaporation
T = transpiration
R = Surface runoff
R
G = net groundwater
flow
 S = change in storage
G

P - R - G - E - T = S

- Example 1.1 and 1.2

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 Example 1.1
 A lake has a surface elevation of 103.2m above a datum at the
beginning of a certain month. In that month the lake received
an average inflow of 6.0 m3/s from surface runoff. In the
same period the outflow from the lake had an average value
of 6.5 m3/s. In that month the lake received a rainfall of 145
mm and the evaporation from the lake surface was 6.10cm.
The average area of the lake is 5000 ha and assume no
contribution from or to the groundwater storage.
 Write the water budget equation for the lake and calculate
the water surface elevation at the end of that month.

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 1.4. World Water Balance

 Oceans 96.5 % of total

 Saline water on land 1% of total
 Fresh: 2.5 % of total
Groundwater 30.1 % of fresh water
Polar Ice 68.6 % of fresh water
Lakes & Rivers 0.266 % of fresh water

Check tables 1.1 and table 1.2 in your text book

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 Global Water Balance (Table 1.2 in textbook)

 Global Average Precipitation (per year):

Ocean (70.8 %) and Land (29.2%)
127 cm x 0.708 + 80 cm x 0.292 = 113.2 cm/yr

 Global Average Evaporation (per year):

140 cm x 0.708 + 48.4 x 0.292 = 113.2 cm/yr

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1.6. Application in Engineering
►We need hydrology in the design and operation of water
resources engineering projects such as those for irrigation,
water supply, flood control, water power and navigation.
More specific examples:
- The capacity of storage structures such as reservoirs
- The magnitude of flood flows to enable safe disposal of
excess flow
- Floodplain analysis and delineation
- The minimum flow and quantity of flow available at
various seasons
- Erosion and sediment control
- The interaction of the flood wave and hydraulic
structures, such as levees, reservoirs, and bridges
►The hydrologic study should of necessity precede structural
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 1.7. Sources of Data

The data normally required:

- Weather records ( temperature, humidity, wind velocity)
- Precipitation data
- Stream-flow records
- Evaporation and transpiration data
- Infiltration characteristics of the area
- Groundwater characteristics
- Physical and geological characteristics

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