HYDROLOGY

INTRODUCTION TO THE SUBJECT

LECTURE NO. 1
HYDROLOGY
- SCIENCE OF WATER
- SCIENCE THAT DEALS
WITH THE OCCURRENCE,
CIRCULATION AND
DISTRIBUTION OF WATER
OF THE EARTH’S
ATMOSPHERE.
ANNUAL REVIEW
CLASSIFICATION OF HYDROLOGY

1. SCIENTIFIC HYDROLOGY
- STUDY WHICH IS CONCERNED CHIEFLY WITH
ACADEMIC ASPECTS
2. ENGINEERING OR APPLIED HYDROLOGY
- A STUDY CONCERNED WITH ENGINEERING
APPLICATIONS
ENGINEERING OR APPLIED HYDROLOGY
1. ESTIMATION OF WATER RESOURCES
2. STUDY OF PROCESSES SUCH AS PRECIPITATION,
RUNOFF, EVAPOTRANSPIRATION AND THEIR INTERACTION
3. STUDY OF PROBLEMS SUCH AS FLOODS AND
DROUGHTS, AND STRATEGIES TO COMBAT THEM
 HYDROLOGIC
CYCLE

WATER VAPOUR
MOVES UPWARDS AND
FORMS CLOUDS DUE
TO HEAT ENERGY

ANNUAL REVIEW
 HYDROLOGIC
CYCLE

PART OF THE
PRECIPITATION MAY
EVAPORATE BACK TO
THE ATMOSPHERE
WHILE FALLING

ANNUAL REVIEW
 HYDROLOGIC
CYCLE

PRECIPITATION MAY BE
INTERCEPTED BY
VEGETATION,
STRUCTURES AND
OTHER SURFACE

ANNUAL REVIEW
 HYDROLOGIC
CYCLE

WATER THAT REACHES

THE GROUND ENTERS
THE EARTH’S SURFACE
THROUGH
INFILTRATION

ANNUAL REVIEW
 HYDROLOGIC
CYCLE
VEGETATION SEND A
PORTION OF THE WATER
FROM UNDER THE
GROUND SURFACE BACK
TO THE ATMOSPHERE
THROUGH THE PROCESS
OF TRANSPIRATION

ANNUAL REVIEW
 HYDROLOGIC
CYCLE
THE PORTION OF THE
PRECIPITATION WHICH
BY A VARIETY OF PATHS
ABOVE AND BELOW THE
SURFACE OF THE EARTH
REACHES THE STREAM
CHANNEL IS CALLED
RUNOFF

ANNUAL REVIEW
 HYDROLOGIC
CYCLE

ONCE IT ENTERS A
STREAM CHANNEL,
RUNOFF BECOMES
STREAM FLOW

ANNUAL REVIEW
ASPECTS OF HYDROLOGIC CYCLE

1. TRANSPORTATION OF WATER
2. TEMPORARY STORAGE
3. CHANGE OF STATE
 MAIN COMPONENTS OF HYDROLOGIC CYCLE

TRANSPORTATION STORAGE COMPONENTS

COMPONENTS
- PRECIPITATION - STORAGE ON LAND
- EVAPORATION SURFACE
- TRANSPIRATION - SOIL MOISTURE STORAGE
- INFILTRATION - GROUNDWATER STORAGE
- RUNOFF
 CATCHMENT AREA
- AREA OF LAND DRAINING
INTO A STREAM OR WATER
COURSE AT A GIVEN
LOCATION
- ALSO CALLED AS
DRAINAGE AREA OR
DRAINAGE BASIN
 DIVIDE
A CATCHMENT AREA IS SEPARATED FROM ITS
NEIGHBOURING AREAS BY A RIDGE CALLED DIVIDE.
 WATER BUDGET EQUATION

MASS INFLOW – MASS OUTFLOW = CHANGE IN MASS STORAGE

IF THE DENSITY OF THE INFLOW, OUTFLOW AND STORAGE VOLUMES ARE THE
SAME,
Vi – Vo = ΔS EQ.1
Vi – INFLOW VOLUME OF WATER INTO THE PROBLEM AREA DURING THE TIME PERIOD
Vo – OUTFLOW VOLUME OF WATER FROM THE PROBLEM AREA DURING THE TIME PERIOD
ΔS – CHANGE IN THE STORAGE OF THE WATER VOLUME OVER AND UNDER THE GIVEN AREA
DURING THE GIVEN PERIOD
WATER BUDGET EQUATION
P – R – G – E – T = ΔS EQ.2

P – PRECIPITATION
R – SURFACE RUNOFF
G - NET GROUNDWATER FLOW OUT OF THE CATCHMENT
E – EVAPORATION
T – TRANSPIRATION
ΔS – CHANGE IN STORAGE
STORAGE
S = SS + SSM + SG EQ.3

SS – SURFACE WATER STORAGE

SSM – WATER IN STORAGE AS SOIL MOISTURE
SG – WATER IN STORAGE AS GROUND WATER
ΔS = Δ SS + Δ SSM + Δ SG EQ.4
RAINFALL-RUNOFF RELATIONSHIP
R=P-L EQ.5

R – RUNOFF VOLUME
P – PRECIPITATION/RAINFALL VOLUME
L – LOSSES – WATER NOT AVAILABLE TO RUNOFF DUE TO
INFILTRATION, EVAPORATION, TRANSPIRATION, AND SURFACE
STORAGE
 EXAMPLE NO. 1
A LAKE HAD A WATER SURFACE ELEVATION OF 103.200m ABOVE DATUM AT THE
BEGINNING OF A CERTAIN MONTH. IN THAT MONTH THE LAKE RECEIVED AN
AVERAGE INFLOW OF 6.0m3/s FROM SURFACE RUNOFF SOURCES. IN THE SAME
PERIOD, THE OUTFLOW FROM THE LAKE HAD AN AVERAGE VALUE OF 6.5m3/s.
FURTHER, IN THAT MONTH, THE LAKE RECEIVED RAINFALL OF 145mm AND THE
EVAPORATION FROM THE LAKE SURFACE WAS ESTIMATED AS 6.10cm. WRITE THE
WATER BUDGET EQUATION FOR THE LAKE SURFACE AREA CAN BE TAKEN AS 5000
ha. ASSUME THAT THERE IS NO CONTRIBUTION TO OR FROM THE GROUNDWATER
STORAGE.
A LAKE HAD A WATER SURFACE ELEVATION OF 103.200m ABOVE DATUM AT THE BEGINNING OF A CERTAIN MONTH. IN THAT MONTH THE LAKE RECEIVED AN
AVERAGE INFLOW OF 6.0m3/s FROM SURFACE RUNOFF SOURCES. IN THE SAME PERIOD, THE OUTFLOW FROM THE LAKE HAD AN AVERAGE VALUE OF 6.5m3/s.
FURTHER, IN THAT MONTH, THE LAKE RECEIVED RAINFALL OF 145mm AND THE EVAPORATION FROM THE LAKE SURFACE WAS ESTIMATED AS 6.10cm. WRITE
THE WATER BUDGET EQUATION FOR THE LAKE SURFACE AREA CAN BE TAKEN AS 5000 ha. ASSUME THAT THERE IS NO CONTRIBUTION TO OR FROM THE
GROUNDWATER STORAGE.
SOLUTION:
INPUT VOLUME – OUPUT VOLUME = CHANGE IN STORAGE OF THE LAKE
(ĪΔt + PA) – (ŌΔt + EA) = ΔS
INFLOW INPUT OUTFLOW OUTFLOW
VOLUME DUE TO DUE TO
VOLUME
PRECIPITATION EVAPORATION

Δt = 1 month = 30 days x 24 hours x 60 mins x 60s = 2,592,000 secs

Inflow Volume = ĪΔt = 6.0m3/s x 2592000 s = 15,552,000 m3
Outflow Volume = ŌΔt = 6.5m3/s x 2592000 s = 16,848,000m3
A LAKE HAD A WATER SURFACE ELEVATION OF 103.200m ABOVE DATUM AT THE BEGINNING OF A CERTAIN MONTH. IN THAT MONTH THE LAKE RECEIVED AN
AVERAGE INFLOW OF 6.0m3/s FROM SURFACE RUNOFF SOURCES. IN THE SAME PERIOD, THE OUTFLOW FROM THE LAKE HAD AN AVERAGE VALUE OF 6.5m3/s.
FURTHER, IN THAT MONTH, THE LAKE RECEIVED RAINFALL OF 145mm AND THE EVAPORATION FROM THE LAKE SURFACE WAS ESTIMATED AS 6.10cm. WRITE
THE WATER BUDGET EQUATION FOR THE LAKE SURFACE AREA CAN BE TAKEN AS 5000 ha. ASSUME THAT THERE IS NO CONTRIBUTION TO OR FROM THE
GROUNDWATER STORAGE.
SOLUTION:
1𝑚 10000 𝑚2
Input due to precipitation = P A =145 mm x 5000 ha x 1000𝑚𝑚
𝑥
1 ℎ𝑎
= 7,250,000 m3
Output due to 1𝑚 10000 𝑚2
= E A =6.10 cm x 5000 ha x 100𝑐𝑚 𝑥 1 ℎ𝑎
evaporation
= 3,050,000 m3
ΔS = (ĪΔt + PA) – (ŌΔt + EA)
ΔS = (15,552,000+7,250,000)-(16,848,000+3,050,000)
ΔS = 2,904,000 m3
A LAKE HAD A WATER SURFACE ELEVATION OF 103.200m ABOVE DATUM AT THE BEGINNING OF A CERTAIN MONTH. IN THAT MONTH THE LAKE RECEIVED AN
AVERAGE INFLOW OF 6.0m3/s FROM SURFACE RUNOFF SOURCES. IN THE SAME PERIOD, THE OUTFLOW FROM THE LAKE HAD AN AVERAGE VALUE OF 6.5m3/s.
FURTHER, IN THAT MONTH, THE LAKE RECEIVED RAINFALL OF 145mm AND THE EVAPORATION FROM THE LAKE SURFACE WAS ESTIMATED AS 6.10cm. WRITE
THE WATER BUDGET EQUATION FOR THE LAKE SURFACE AREA CAN BE TAKEN AS 5000 ha. ASSUME THAT THERE IS NO CONTRIBUTION TO OR FROM THE
GROUNDWATER STORAGE.
SOLUTION:
ΔS = 2,904,000 m3
∆𝑆 2,904,000 𝑚3 = 0.058 𝑚
Change in Elevation: Δz = =
𝐴 10,000 𝑚2
5000 ℎ𝑎 𝑥
1 ℎ𝑎

New water surface elevation at the end of the month:

=103.200m + 0.058m
= 103.258 m above datum
 EXAMPLE NO. 2
A SMALL CATCHMENT OF AREA 150ha RECEIVED A RAINFALL OF 10.5cm IN
90mins DUE TO A STORM. AT THE OUTLET OF THE CATCHMENT, THE STREAM
DRAINING THE CATCHMENT WAS DRY BEFORE THE STORM AND EXPERIENCED A
RUNOFF LASTING FOR 10 hours WITH AN AVERAGE DISCHARGE OF 1.5m3/s . THE
STREAM WAS AGAIN DRY AFTER THE RUNOFF EVENT.
A) WHAT IS THE AMOUNT OF WATER WHICH WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO RUNOFF
DUE TO COMBINED EFFECT OF INFILTRATION, EVAPORATION. AND
TRANSPIRATION?
B) WHAT IS THE RATIO OF RUNOFF TO PRECIPITATION?
A SMALL CATCHMENT OF AREA 150ha RECEIVED A RAINFALL OF 10.5cm IN 90mins DUE TO A STORM. AT THE OUTLET OF THE CATCHMENT, THE STREAM
DRAINING THE CATCHMENT WAS DRY BEFORE THE STORM AND EXPERIENCED A RUNOFF LASTING FOR 10 hours WITH AN AVERAGE DISCHARGE OF 1.5m3/s .
THE STREAM WAS AGAIN DRY AFTER THE RUNOFF EVENT.
A) WHAT IS THE AMOUNT OF WATER WHICH WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO RUNOFF DUE TO COMBINED EFFECT OF INFILTRATION, EVAPORATION. AND
TRANSPIRATION?
B) WHAT IS THE RATIO OF RUNOFF TO PRECIPITATION?
SOLUTION:
Runoff = Precipitation – Losses Note: 90 mins = 1.5 hrs = time duration of rainfall
Δt = 10 hours 10 hrs – 1.5 hrs = 8.5 hrs = no rainfall occur

P = Input due to precipitation in 10 hours

1𝑚 10,000𝑚2
= 10.5cm x 150 ha x 𝑥 = 157,500 m3
100 𝑐𝑚 1 ℎ𝑎
R = Runoff Volume = Outflow volume of catchment outlet in 10 hrs
= 1.5m3/s x 10 hrs x 60mins/hr x 60secs/min
= 54,000 m3
L = 157,500 – 54,000 = 103,500 m3
A SMALL CATCHMENT OF AREA 150ha RECEIVED A RAINFALL OF 10.5cm IN 90mins DUE TO A STORM. AT THE OUTLET OF THE CATCHMENT, THE STREAM
DRAINING THE CATCHMENT WAS DRY BEFORE THE STORM AND EXPERIENCED A RUNOFF LASTING FOR 10 hours WITH AN AVERAGE DISCHARGE OF 1.5m3/s .
THE STREAM WAS AGAIN DRY AFTER THE RUNOFF EVENT.
A) WHAT IS THE AMOUNT OF WATER WHICH WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO RUNOFF DUE TO COMBINED EFFECT OF INFILTRATION, EVAPORATION. AND
TRANSPIRATION?
B) WHAT IS THE RATIO OF RUNOFF TO PRECIPITATION?
SOLUTION:
RATIO = RUNOFF / PRECIPITATION
Runoff = 54,000 m3
Precipitation= 157,500 m3
Ratio =
54,000
= 0.34 RUNOFF
157,500 COEFFICIENT
WORLD WATER BALANCE
1386M km3 ~ TOTAL QUANTITY
OF WATER
96.5% - OCEAN WATER (SALINE)
1% LAND WATER IS ALSO SALINE
35.0 M km3 – FRESH WATER
10.6M km3 – liquid & fresh
24.4M km3 – ice
WORLD WATER BALANCE
505,000km3/year – Evaporation
from Ocean
72,000km3/year – Evaporation from
Land
47,000km3/year – Total Runoff
44,700km3/year– River to ocean
2,200km3/year– Groundwater to ocean
RESIDENCE TIME

- AVERAGE DURATION OF A PARTICLE OF WATER TO PASS THROUGH A

PHASE OF HYDROLOGIC CYCLE
Tr = V / Q EQ.6

V – VOLUME OF WATER IN THE PHASE

Q – AVERAGE FLOW RATE IN THAT PHASE
 EXAMPLE NO. 3

BY ASSUMING THAT ALL THE SURFACE RUNOFF TO THE

OCEANS COMES FROM THE RIVERS, FIND THE RESIDENCE
TIME OF GLOBAL RIVERS. USE TABLE 1.1 AND TABLE 1.2.
BY ASSUMING THAT ALL THE SURFACE RUNOFF TO THE OCEANS COMES FROM THE RIVERS, FIND THE RESIDENCE TIME OF GLOBAL RIVERS. USE TABLE 1.1 AND
TABLE 1.2.
SOLUTION:
BY ASSUMING THAT ALL THE SURFACE RUNOFF TO THE OCEANS COMES FROM THE RIVERS, FIND THE RESIDENCE TIME OF GLOBAL RIVERS. USE TABLE 1.1 AND
TABLE 1.2.
SOLUTION:
Tr = V / Q
V = Volume of Water = 0.00212 M km3
Q = Average Flow Rate = 44700 km3/year
Tr = 2120 / 44700 = 0.0474 year = 17.3 days
APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING

1) Irrigation
2) Water Supply
3) Flood Control
4) Water Power
5) Navigation
FACTORS CONSIDERED FOR PROPER ASSESSMENT OF
HYDROLOGICAL INVESTIGATION

1) The capacity storage structures

2) The magnitude of flood flows
3) Minimum of flow and quantity of flow available at
various seasons.
4) Interaction of flood wave and hydraulic structures
TYPICAL FAILURES OF HYDRAULIC STRUCTURES

1) Overtopping and
consequent failure of an
earthen dam due to
inadequate spillway
activity
TYPICAL FAILURES OF HYDRAULIC STRUCTURES

2) Failure of bridges
and culverts due to
excess flood flow
 TYPICAL FAILURES OF HYDRAULIC STRUCTURES

3) Inability of a large
reservoir to fill up with
water due to
overestimation of
stream flow
 SOURCES OF DATA
1. WEATHER
RECORDS –
TEMPERATURE,
HUMIDITY, AND
WIND VELOCITY
 SOURCES OF DATA
2. PRECIPITATION
DATA
 SOURCES OF DATA
3. STREAM FLOW
RECORDS
 SOURCES OF DATA
4. EVAPORATION AND
EVAPOTRANSPIRATION
DATA
 SOURCES OF DATA
5. INFILTRATION
CHARACTERISTIC
 SOURCES OF DATA
6. SOILS OF
THE AREA
 SOURCES OF DATA
7. LAND USE AND
LAND COVER
 SOURCES OF DATA
8. GROUNDWATER
CHARACTERISTICS
 SOURCES OF DATA
9. PHYSICAL AND
GEOLOGICAL
CHARACTERISTICS
OF THE AREA
 SOURCES OF DATA
10. WATER QUALITY DATA