Lesson 1 – HYDROLOGY AND THE HYDROLOGIC CYCLE Hydrological Cycle = closed system:

the total amount of water is the same, with virtually no water

HYDRAULICS - science that deals with the motion of liquids in
relation to fluid mechanics and fluid dynamics.
HYDROLOGY - science that deals with the occurrence,
circulation and distribution of water of the earth and earth’s
atmosphere.
- concerned with the water in streams and lakes,
rainfall and snowfall, snow and ice on the land and
water occurring below the earth’s surface
added to or lost from the cycle.
WATER BALANCE can be established by calculating the total
precipitation input and outputs.
- method by which we can account for the hydrologic
cycle with emphasis on plants and soil moisture.
- general hydrologic equation - a statement of the law
of conservation of mass as applied to the hydrologic
cycle.

Planet Earth = Water Planet WATER-BALANCE APPROACH allows an examination of the

WATER - most abundant substance on earth
- principal constituent of all living things
- major force constantly shaping the surface of the
earth.
- earth's ability to support life is facilitated by the
existence of water in its three states, as it serves as
a climate stabilizer by absorbing and releasing
energy during transitions between these phases.
HYDROLOGIC CYCLE - water transfer cycle, occurs
continuously in nature.
- conceptual model of how water moves in different
states.
PHASES OF HYDROLOGIC CYCLE
EVAPORATION - transfer of water from the surface of the
earth to the atmosphere.
TRANSPIRATION - process of water vapor being emitted by
plant leaves.
hydrologic cycle for any period of time.
Due to the fact that for average values over longer time
periods or over periods corresponding to multiples of a year,
the storage is more or less likely to be constant. Thus,
storage changes will be close to zero.
CATCHMENT AREA - Water balances are usually calculated
for a specific area
- also called as drainage basin, discharge area,
precipitation area, and watershed
- area upstream from a certain point in the water
course that contributes to flow when precipitation
falls.
- size depends on where this point is located in the
stream and its topography or altitude situation.
- area of the catchment is determined by water divide

EVAPOTRANSPIRATION - total evaporation. WATER BUDGET - estimates the amount of water in each
component of the water cycle.
PRECIPITATION - result when tiny condensation particles
Water Inflow Water Outflow
grow too large.
Precipitation Evaporation
Surface water flow into basin Evapotranspiration
INFILTRATION - flow of water from the ground surface into
Imported water Surface water outflow
the ground.
Ground water inflow Exported water
RUNOFF - quantity of water discharged in surface streams. Ground water outflow

SUBLIMATION - direct conversion from solid state to vapor Change in Water Storage:
state. Snow pack
Unsaturated soil zone
WATER VAPOR - primary form of atmospheric moisture. Streams, rivers, reservoirs
Aquifers
CONDENSATION - transition process from the vapor state to
the liquid state.

“The water cycle is in balance, and the amount of

precipitation falling will slowly soak into the ground and
eventually reach the rivers.”