HYDROLOGIC

CYCLE
 HYDROLOGIC CYCLE
The hydrologic cycle, also known as the water cycle, is
defined as the pathway of water as it moves in its various
phases through the atmosphere, to the earth, over and through
the land, to the ocean, and back to the atmosphere.
It involves the circulation of various physical processes like
evaporation, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, surface
runoff, and subsurface flows.
 EVAPORATION
Evaporation is the process
by which water is
converted from its liquid
state to the gaseous state,
also known as water vapor.
In other words, water
leaves the Earth's surface
and enters the atmosphere
as a gas.
CONDENSATION
Condensation is the process
in which water vapor changes
into a liquid state. Water
vapor in the atmosphere
condenses and becomes
liquid. Condensation can
happen high in the
atmosphere or at ground level.
Clouds form as water vapor
condenses, or becomes more
concentrated or dense.
 PRECIPITATION
Precipitation is one of many
ways water is cycled from
the atmosphere to the earth
or ocean. It describes any
liquid or solid water that falls
to Earth as a result of
condensation in the
atmosphere. Precipitation
includes rain, snow, and hail.
INFILTRATION
Infiltration is a function of
soil moisture conditions and
soil type, and may reenter
channels later as interflow or
may percolate to recharge
the shallow ground water.
 SURFACE RUNOFF SUBSURFACE FLOW

Surface Runoff is the flow of Subsurface flow is relatively

water, from rain, snowmelt, or rapid flow toward the stream
other sources, over the land channel that occurs below the
surface, and is a major surface. It occurs typically
component of the water cycle. slowly than surface runoff.
The remaining portion of
precipitation becomes overland
flow or direct runoff, which flows
generally in a down-gradient
direction to accumulate in local
streams that then flow to rivers.
THE HYDROLOGIC CYCLE
precipitation
 PRECIPITATION
Precipitation is the general term for all forms of moisture
emanating from the clouds and falling to the ground. It includes
rainfall, snowfall, and other processes by which water falls to the
land surface, such as hail and sleet.
 FACTORS AFFECTING THE FORMATION OF
PRECIPITATION

1Cooling of the Atmosphere

As air rises the pressure decreases; Boyle’s Law states that this will lead to a
corresponding cooling in temperature. The cooler temperature leads to less
water vapour being retained by the air and conditions becoming favourable
for condensation. The actual uplift of air may be caused by heating from the
earth’s surface (leading to convective precipitation), an air mass being
forced to rise over an obstruction such as a mountain range (this leads to
orographic precipitation), or from a low-pressure weather system where the
air is constantly being forced upwards (this leads to cyclonic precipitation).
2Condensation of the Nuclei
Condensation nuclei are minute particles floating in the
atmosphere which provide a surface for the water vapour to
condense into liquid water up.

3Water Droplet Growth

Water or ice droplets formed around condensation nuclei are
normally too small to fall directly to the ground; that is, the forces
from the upward draught within a cloud are greater than the
gravitational forces pulling the microscopic droplet downwards.

FACTORS AFFECTING THE FORMATION OF PRECIPITATION

 The formation of precipitation requires the lifting of an air mass in the
atmosphere so that it cools and some of its moisture condenses.
The three main mechanisms of air mass lifting are:

1Frontal Lifting Warm air is lifted over cooler air by frontal passage.

2Orographic Lifting An air mass rises to pass over a mountain range.

3Convective Lifting Air is drawn upwards by convective action, such as

in the center of a thunderstorm cell. Convective
cells are initiated by surface heating, which causes
a vertical instability of moist air, and are sustained
by the latent heat of vaporization given up as water
vapor rises and condenses.
 TYPES OF PRECIPITATION

RAIN SNOW DRIZZLE

GLAZE SLEET HAIL

 RAIN
Rain is a form of precipitation that is in the form of
water drops of a size larger than 0.5mm. The
maximum raindrop size is about 6mm. Drops of
larger size break up into smaller drops as it fall

Rainfall is the predominant form of precipitation

and hence the term precipitation is used
synonymously with rainfall. The magnitude of
rainfall shows high temporal and spatial variation.
This variation is responsible for the occurrence of
Rain hydrologic extremes such as floods and droughts.

TYPES OF PRECIPITATION
 SNOW
Snow consists of ice crystals in a
flaky form. It is also an important form
of precipitation.

Snow

TYPES OF PRECIPITATION
 DRIZZLE
Drizzle is a fine sprinkle of tiny water
droplets of size less than 0.5mm and
intensity greater than 1mm/h. The tiny
drops forming a drizzle appear to float
in the air.

Drizzle

TYPES OF PRECIPITATION
 GLAZE
The glaze is formed when rain or
drizzle comes in contact with the cold
ground at around zero degrees Celsius.
The water drops freeze to form an ice
coating.

Glaze
TYPES OF PRECIPITATION
 SLEET
Sleet is frozen raindrops formed when
rainfall passes through the air at
subfreezing temperatures.
Also known as, ice pellets, are smaller
size than hailstones

Sleet

TYPES OF PRECIPITATION
 HAIL
Hail is a type of showery precipitation in
the form of pellets or lumps of size greater
than 8mm. Hail occurs in violent thunder.

Hail

TYPES OF PRECIPITATION
 REFERENCES

https://education.nationalgeographic.org/reso
urce/hydrologic-cycle

GROUP 1:
David Chin, Water Resources Engineering,
3rd E., Pearson, 2013
Bedient, P.B., Huber W.C. and Vieux, B.E.
Hydrology and Floodplain Analysis, Pearson
ALIPO-ON, NEIL IAN 4th Ed., Philippine edition copyright 2010

CASIPLE, COLEEN
MADREGALEJO, SHENNAH MAE
MIRASOL, LOURDES
SARAD, ANDREA MARIE