EV301/415 ENGINEERING HYDROLOGY

TEST 1 (JAN-APRIL 2019)

Student ID :

:
Student Name

Duration : 1 hour 30 minutes (12/02/2019 – Tuesday, DETSAR)

Instruction

Answer ALL questions. Answers MUST be written in PEN only.

This question paper consists of 2 pages excluding cover page. Answers are to be written in
the answer sheets provided. Candidates are not allowed to bring textbooks, lecture notes,
files or any materials except writing equipment and scientific calculator into the examination
hall. All used/unused answer sheets must be returned to lecturer.

Warning:
The University Examination Board of UCSI University regards cheating as a most serious
offence and will not hesitate to mete out the appropriate punitive actions according to the
severity of the offence committed, and in accordance with the clauses stipulated in the
Students’ Handbook, up to and including expulsion from UCSI University.

Question Marks Marks

8
1
(CLO1)
12
2
(CLO1)
8
3
(CLO1)
3
4
(CLO1)
6
5
(CLO2)
9
6
(CLO2)
8
7
(CLO2)
10
8
(CLO2)
Total 64 marks

Test 1 – EV301/415 Engineering Hydrology Dr. Ruzaimah Razman, FETBE

Q1 Sketch and labeling the six (6) parts in the hydrological cycle.
(8 marks)

Ans:

Q2 Explain each of the parts consist in the hydrological process mention in Q1.
(12 marks)

Ans:
1. Precipitation: Condensed water vapor that falls to the earth surface. Most
precipitation occurs as rain, but also includes snow, hail, fog drip, sleet, etc.
2. Infiltration: The flow of water from the ground surface into the ground. Once
infiltrated, the water becomes soil moisture or groundwater.
3. 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.
4. Transpiration: The loss of water vapor through plant tissue and leaves.
5. Run-off: 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
infiltrate into the ground, evaporate into the air, become stored in lakes or
reservoirs, or be extracted for agricultural or other human uses.
6. Groundwater flow: Water that infiltrate into the ground will flows in porous
media in the subsurface in either shallow or deeper aquifer systems that can be
pumped for water supply to agricultural and municipal water systems.

Q3 Base on Figure Q3, describe process of generation of flow in a stream.

(8 marks)

Test 1 – EV301/415 Engineering Hydrology Dr. Ruzaimah Razman, FETBE

 Figure Q3

Ans:
As water falls to the earth’s surface, the droplets either run over the ground into
streams and rivers (referred as surface runoff, overland flow, or direct runoff), move
laterally just below the ground surface (interflow), or move vertically through the
soils to form groundwater (infiltration or percolation).

Flow in stream is generated in a number of ways. Some portion of the flow in a

stream (baseflow) can originate from groundwater, soil and springs. This is the
portion of the streamflow that would be present even during periods of drought.
Interflow is that portion of precipitation that infiltrates into the soil and moves
horizontally through the shallow soil horizon without ever reaching the water table
(saturation zone). Overland flow is due to surface runoff and is that portion of
precipitation that neither infiltrates into the soil nor evaporates. This water flows
down gradient to nearest channel. Whereas, channel precipitation is the rainfall that
actually falls into the stream or river.

Q4 Write the basic mass-balance equation for the hydrological cycle.

(3 marks)

Ans:
ΔS = P – (R + E + T + G)

where,
ΔS = change in storage in a specified time period
P = precipitation
R = surface runoff
G = groundwater - infiltration into ground
E = evaporation
T = transpiration
Test 1 – EV301/415 Engineering Hydrology Dr. Ruzaimah Razman, FETBE
Q5 How factor of porous material, drained soil material, and drainage density affect the
rates at which water flows toward the stream and into the ground.
(6 marks)

Ans:
1. Porous material (sand, gravel, and soluble rock) absorbs water far more readily
than does fine-grained, dense clay or unfractured rock.
2. Well-drained soil material (porous) has a lower runoff potential therefore has a
lower drainage density. Poorly-drained soil material (non-porous) has a higher
runoff potential, resulting in greater drainage density.
3. Drainage density is a measure of the length of channel per unit area. Many
channels per unit area mean that more water is moving off the surface, rather than
soaking in the soil.

Q6 Describe the different types of rainfall.

(9 marks)

Ans:
1. Convection
• This type of precipitation is common in areas with large expand of surfaces to
be heated by Sun’s radiation, e.g. urban areas, over the sea, etc.
• Heated air expands with a resultant reduction in weight. During this period,
increasing quantities of water vapor are taken up, the warm moisture with
laden air becomes unstable & pronounced vertical currents are developed.
• Dynamic cooling takes place, causing condensation & precipitation.
• Convective precipitation may produce in form of light showers or storms of
extremely high intensity (thunderstorms).

2. Orographic
• Orographic refers to the process of air being uplifted as it is blocked by an
obstructing slope, usually mountains.
• In orographic precipitation, moist air from the sea gets uplifted as wind blows
up the mountain (windward side).
• As the air rises, it cools, expands and turns into clouds via condensation,
which later precipitates on the windward side. The drier, warmer air
afterwards descend on the leeward side.

3. Cyclonic
• Frontal also known as cyclonic precipitation. It happens when air of different
pressure converges (due to radiation and Earth’s movement), then warm air is
forced into an area of cool air. This situation called as warm front. The

Test 1 – EV301/415 Engineering Hydrology Dr. Ruzaimah Razman, FETBE

 resulting precipitation is usually smaller in intensity/quantity, but covers a
much larger area.
• While, cold front happens when cool air is the aggressor. As it pushes onto
warmer air, the warm air is forced to rise abruptly.
• The resulting precipitation is usually heavier in intensity, and cover a smaller
area compared to warm front. A more intense precipitation may take the form
of a severe rainstorm or a tornado.

Q7 Name factors affect evaporation of water from water surface, and how its influence
the process.
(8 marks)

Ans:
1. Sun radiation: process of conversion from water into vapor continues if the energy
is there (sun light as the heat energy), and cloud will be the barrier of evaporation.
2. Wind: if water evaporates to the atmosphere, the level between land surface and
air will be saturated by vapor, then the process of evaporation stops. In order the
process continues, the saturation level must be changed with dry air. The changing
is possible if there is wind which blows the component of vapor.
3. Relative humidity: if the humidity relative is up, then the potential of air to absorb
water is lower so then the evaporation is lower as well.
4. Temperature: if the temperature if air & soil is high, so then the process of
evaporation is faster.

Q8 List five (5) meteorological factors and five (5) physical factors that affect surface
runoff.
(10 marks)

Ans:
Meteorological factors:
1. Type of precipitation
2. Rainfall intensity
3. Rainfall amount
4. Rainfall duration
5. Distribution of rainfall over the drainage basin
6. Direction of storm movement
7. Precipitation that occurred earlier & resulting soil moisture

Physical factors:
1. Land use
2. Vegetation
3. Soil type
4. Drainage area
5. Basin shape
6. Elevation
Test 1 – EV301/415 Engineering Hydrology Dr. Ruzaimah Razman, FETBE
 7. Topography, especially the slope of the land
8. Drainage network patterns
9. Ponds, lakes, reservoir, sinks or anything that accumulates in a basin, which
prevent runoff from continuing downstream

Test 1 – EV301/415 Engineering Hydrology Dr. Ruzaimah Razman, FETBE