HYDROLOGY – ASSIGNMENT #1

1. Difference Between Hydrology and Hydraulics

The difference between hydrology and hydraulic is that Hydrology is
the science which deals with the occurrence, distribution and disposal of
water on the planet earth; it is the study of rainfall and water, especially its
movement, in relation to land. It represents the quantity of water (runoff)
generated from a specific area or watershed. It deals with the circulation of
water through the hydrologic cycle and the quantification of flows that are
produced by rainfall. In land development, hydrology typically refers to the
rate of precipitation, quantity of water, rate of surface runoff, and timing of its
arrival at a point of interest (the project site). While Hydraulics is concerned
with the conveyance of water through pipes and channels (stream, river, lake,
ocean). In land development, hydraulic analysis is used after the hydrology
reporting process in order to design stormwater conveyance networks,
calculate the depth of flow in pipes, and determine open channel flow in
ditches and swales. This is often referred to as “stormwater management
design.”
2. The Hydrologic Cycle and The Human Impact
Hydrologic Cycle is the water transfer cycle, which occurs continuously
in nature; the three important phases of the hydrologic cycle are: (a)
Evaporation and evapotranspiration (b) precipitation and (c) runoff. The
hydrologic cycle involves the continuous circulation of water in the Earth-
Atmosphere system. At its core, the water cycle is the motion of the water
from the ground to the atmosphere and back again.
Some aspects of the hydrologic cycle can be utilized by humans for a
direct economic benefit. For example, the potential energy of water elevated
above the surface of the oceans can be utilized for the generation of
electricity. Human activities can influence the hydrologic cycle in many other
ways. The volumes and timing of river flows can be greatly affected by
channeling to decrease the impediments to flow, and by changing the
character of the watershed by paving, compacting soils, and altering the
nature of the vegetation. Risks of flooding can be increased by speeding the
rate at which water is shed from the land, thereby increasing the magnitude of
peak flows. Risks of flooding are also increased if erosion of soils from
terrestrial parts of the watershed leads to siltation and the development of
shallower river channels, which then fill up and spill over during high-flow
periods. Massive increases in erosion are often associated with deforestation,
especially when natural forests are converted into agriculture.
The impact of human behaviors on the watershed hydrologic cycle is
affecting the precision of existing flood forecasting models. The changes in
watershed runoff management also influence flood forecasts and reservoir
operations, directly affecting flood control and reservoir benefit. In order to
 enhance flood predictions and reservoir management, it is important to
quantify the impact of human activities. First, the impact of human activities on
watershed hydrologic cycle is assessed by examining changes in watershed
surface and hydraulic project conditions, and then by examining rainfall runoff
trend. Data mining is used to emphasize the hydrological consequences of
human activities. Water transportation can be understood as a combination of
natural circulation in an external system and an internal artificial system.
Humans take water from the external system and use it for a short or long
period of time, which unfortunately brings it back to serious pollution. Changes
in the natural water system occur slowly except for natural disasters.
However, the human impact is so great now that even the external system
has been greatly affected. The acidification of water resources and global
warming are outstanding examples of the harmful effects of human impact on
nature. The entire water and energy system, the external natural part and the
internal man-made adjustment part, are extremely complex and difficult to
analyze.

3. Interrelationships of Phases of the Hydrologic Cycle:

Evapotranspiration, Precipitation, Infiltration/ Percolation, Surface/
Subsurface Runoff, Groundwater.
The water cycle, also called the hydrologic cycle, refers to the pathway
of water in nature, as it moves in its different phases through the atmosphere,
down over and through the land, to the ocean and back up to the atmosphere.
The cycle has no beginning or end, and its many processes occur
continuously. Water evaporates from the oceans and the land surface to
become part of the atmosphere; water vapor is transported and lifted in the
atmosphere until it condenses and precipitates on the land or the oceans;
precipitated water may be intercepted by vegetation, become overland flow
over the ground surface, infiltrate into the ground, flow through the soil as
subsurface flow, and discharge into streams as surface runoff. Much of the
intercepted water and surface runoff returns to the atmosphere through
evaporation. The infiltrated water may percolate deeper to recharge
groundwater, later emerging in springs or seeping into streams to form
surface runoff, and finally flowing out to the sea or evaporating into the
atmosphere as the hydrologic cycle continues.

4. Philippine Watersheds: Delineation of Drainage Area, Sub Basin /

Physical Properties Determination (Application in the Term Project)
Watershed a high area of land where rain collects, some of it are
flowing down to supply rivers, lakes, etc., at lower levels. It is an area of land
on a slope which drains its water into a stream and its tributaries. It also called
as catchment area or drainage basin.
PARTS OF WATERSHED:

 Tributary – a smaller river or stream that flows into a main or parent river.

 Ridgeline/Watershed Divide – higher ground separating two adjacent
streams or watersheds.
  Flood Plain – flat, border areas on each side of a river which allows water
to spill out/ overflow at times of high flow.
 Estuary – a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more body
of water flowing into it and an open connection to the sea.
 Headwater/Groundwater – water that is located beneath the surface of
the earth in pores in the soil.
CLASSIFICATION OF WATERSHED:
SHAPE:
1. Square 4. Oval 7. Polygon Shape
2. Triangular 5. Fern Leaf Shape 8. Circular Shape
3. Rectangular 6. Palm Shape
SIZE:
1. Micro Watersheds – are the smallest land area wherein the water flow into a
tributary.
2. Small Watershed – are those where the overland flow is the main contributor
to peak runoff/flow and channel characteristics do not affect the overland flow.
3. Large Watersheds – are those give peak flows are greatly influenced by
channel characteristics and basin storage.
COMPONENTS OF A WATERSHED:

 Upland Areas – are areas where there is not usually standing water and
would typically be either forested or agricultural land.
 Wetlands – is an area of land that is saturated with water for all or part of the
year. A wetland can be marsh, pound, or vogue.
 Riparian Zones/Vegetation – the plants that grow along or near the
riverbanks, lakes, and wetlands.
 Surface Water – is just a water that collects on the surface of the earth. This
category is composed of rivers, lakes, streams, oceans and wetlands.
 Groundwater – all water under the surface of the ground. It is stored in the
soil and it can be found far under the ground in deep aquifers or very near the
ground surface.
IMPORTANCE AND FUNCTIONS OF WATERSHED

 Life on earth could not be sustained without healthy watersheds. We know

that watershed is an area of land that drains rain water or snow  into one
location such as stream, lake or wetland. These water bodies supply our
drinking water, water for agriculture and manufacturing, offer opportunities for
recreation and provide habitat to numerous plants and animals.
 The main function of a watershed is to receive the incoming precipitation and
then disposed it off. The production of a continuous water supply that would
maintain the lifeforms within it and in the area fed by its stream.
EXAMPLES OF WATERSHEDS IN THE PHILIPPINES:
1. Ambuklao (Bokod, Benguet) 2. Binga (Itogon, Benguet)
 3. San Roque (San Miguel, 6. Agus 4 (Lanao Del Norte)
Pangasinan) 7. Lake Lanao (Lanao Del Sur)
4. Angat (Norzagaray, Bulacan) 8. Pulangi 4 (Maramag, Bukidnon)
5. Caliraya (Lumban, Laguna) 9. Allah River (South Cotabato)

WATERSHED DELINEATION AND DRAINAGE AREA MEASUREMENT

Watershed Delineation is the process of identifying the drainage area of a point or
set of points.
 Watersheds or Drainage Basins are comprised of a network of stream
channels that link from smaller to larger, providing conduits for surface water
run-off and sediment transport on the earth surface.
 Topographic Map – a map characterized by large scale detail and
quantitative presentation of relief, usually using contour lines.
STEPS IN DELINEATING A DRAINAGE AREA:
STEP 1: Use a topographic map to locate the river, lake, stream, wetland, or other
water bodies of interest.
STEP 2: Trace the watercourse from its source to its mouth, including the tributaries.
This step determines the general beginning and ending boundaries.
STEP 3: Examine the brown lines on the topographic map that are near the
watercourse. These are referred to as contour lines.
STEP 4: Contour lines spaced far apart indicate that the landscape is more level and
gently sloping (i.e., they are flat areas). Contour lines spaced very close together
indicate dramatic changes (rise or fall) in elevation over a short distance (i.e., they
are steep areas).
STEP 5: Check the slope of the landscape by locating two adjacent contour lines
and determine their respective elevations. The slope is calculated as the change in
elevation, along a straight line, divided by the distance between the endpoints of that
line.
STEP 6: Determine the direction of drainage in the area of the waterbody by drawing
arrows perpendicular to a series of contour lines that decrease in elevation. Storm
water runoff seeks the path of least resistance as it travels downslope. The “path” is
the shortest distance between contours, hence a perpendicular route.
STEP 7: Mark the break points surrounding the waterbody. The “break points” are
the highest elevations where half of the runoff would drain towards one body of
water, and the other half would drain towards another body of water.
STEP 8: Identify break points. Connect the break points with a line following the
highest elevations in the area. The completed line represents the boundary of the
watershed.
STEP 9: Once you’ve outlined the watershed boundaries on your map, imagine a
drop of rain falling on the surface of the map. Imagine the water flowing down the
slopes as it crosses contour lines at right angles. Follow its path to the nearest
stream that flows to the water body you are studying. Imagine this water drop
starting at different points on the watershed boundaries to verify that the boundaries
are correct.
STEP 10: Distribute copies of your watershed map to your group.
STEP 11: Watersheds sometimes have what are termed sub-watersheds within
them. Rivers, large streams, lake, and wetland watershed often have more than one
sub-watershed (usually smaller tributary watersheds) within them. Generally, the
larger the waterbody you are examining, the more sub-watersheds you will find. Your
watershed map can be further divided into smaller sections or sub-watersheds if it
helps organize your study better.
STEP 12: Once the watershed and sub-watershed (optional) boundaries have been
delineated on the map, your team can verify them in the field, if necessary