9.1 Hydrology and Water Cycle

Water is life, and hydrology is the study of its movement. This topic dives into the water cycle, exploring how water flows through Earth's systems. From rain to rivers to groundwater, we'll uncover the intricate dance of H2O.

Understanding hydrology is crucial for managing water resources and mitigating environmental issues. We'll examine factors influencing water flow, relationships between precipitation and runoff, and methods for calculating hydrologic parameters. Get ready to dive deep into the world of water!

Hydrologic Cycle Components and Processes

Water Movement and Key Components

Top images from around the web for Water Movement and Key Components

• 

  Water Cycle – Classroom Partners View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  13.1 The Hydrological Cycle | Physical Geology View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Water Cycle – Classroom Partners View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  13.1 The Hydrological Cycle | Physical Geology View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 2

Top images from around the web for Water Movement and Key Components

• 

  Water Cycle – Classroom Partners View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  13.1 The Hydrological Cycle | Physical Geology View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Water Cycle – Classroom Partners View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  13.1 The Hydrological Cycle | Physical Geology View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 2

• Hydrologic cycle represents continuous water movement on, above, and below Earth's surface
• Key components include precipitation, evaporation, transpiration, infiltration, surface runoff, and groundwater flow
• Precipitation occurs when atmospheric water vapor condenses and falls as rain, snow, sleet, or hail
• Evaporation changes water from liquid to gas, primarily from water bodies and land surfaces
• Transpiration releases water vapor from plants through leaves and stems

Water Transport and Storage Mechanisms

• Infiltration moves water from surface into soil and underlying rock layers
• Surface runoff flows over land surfaces when precipitation exceeds infiltration rate
• Groundwater flow moves water through subsurface rock formations and aquifers (sandstone, limestone)
• Oceans store about 97% of Earth's water, while glaciers and ice caps hold about 2%
• Atmosphere contains less than 0.001% of Earth's water, but plays crucial role in water transport

Interconnected Processes and Human Impact

• Evapotranspiration combines evaporation and transpiration processes
• Water table represents the upper surface of the saturated zone in an unconfined aquifer
• Interception by vegetation (trees, shrubs) affects amount of precipitation reaching the ground
• Human activities (urbanization, deforestation) can significantly alter natural hydrologic processes
• Climate change impacts hydrologic cycle through altered precipitation patterns and increased evaporation rates

Factors Influencing Water Flow

Surface Water Flow Factors

• Topography influences surface water flow through slope, land cover, and drainage patterns
• Soil characteristics affect flow rates (texture, structure, permeability)
• Climate factors impact surface flows (precipitation intensity, duration, temperature, evapotranspiration rates)
• Land use and human activities alter natural flow patterns (urbanization, agricultural practices)
• Vegetation cover affects runoff and infiltration rates (forests, grasslands)

Groundwater Flow Factors

• Geological formations impact groundwater flow paths and velocities (rock types, arrangement)
• Hydraulic conductivity determines ease of water movement through porous media
• Transmissivity represents ability of an aquifer to transmit water (product of hydraulic conductivity and aquifer thickness)
• Presence of confining layers and aquifer boundaries influences groundwater flow directions and rates
• Porosity affects storage capacity and flow characteristics of aquifers (primary porosity in sand, secondary porosity in fractured rock)

Hydrologic Parameters and Human Influence

• Specific yield represents drainable porosity of an unconfined aquifer
• Storativity describes volume of water released from storage per unit area of aquifer per unit decline in hydraulic head
• Hydraulic gradient drives groundwater flow (change in hydraulic head over distance)
• Darcy's Law relates groundwater flow rate to hydraulic conductivity and gradient
• Human activities like groundwater pumping can alter natural flow patterns and create cones of depression

Precipitation, Infiltration, and Runoff Relationship

Precipitation Characteristics and Infiltration Process

• Intensity and duration of precipitation events directly affect partitioning between infiltration and runoff
• Infiltration capacity varies with soil type and antecedent moisture conditions
• Initial abstraction includes interception by vegetation and surface storage
• Horton overland flow occurs when rainfall intensity exceeds infiltration capacity
• Saturation excess overland flow results from saturated soil conditions

Runoff Generation and Watershed Response

• Excess water becomes surface runoff when precipitation intensity exceeds infiltration capacity
• Time of concentration relates time for water to travel from most distant watershed point to outlet
• Hydrographs graphically represent relationship between precipitation, infiltration, and runoff over time
• Baseflow represents groundwater contribution to stream flow during dry periods
• Interflow occurs as subsurface flow through soil layers above water table

Factors Affecting Infiltration and Runoff

• Soil texture influences infiltration rates (sandy soils have higher rates than clay soils)
• Vegetation cover increases infiltration and reduces runoff (root systems, organic matter)
• Slope affects runoff velocity and infiltration opportunity time
• Impervious surfaces in urban areas increase runoff and reduce infiltration (roads, buildings)
• Antecedent moisture conditions impact soil's ability to absorb additional water

Hydrologic Parameter Calculation

Surface Water Calculations

• Rational Method estimates peak discharge for small watersheds: $Q = CIA$ Where Q = peak discharge, C = runoff coefficient, I = rainfall intensity, A = drainage area
• Time of concentration calculated using empirical formulas: Kirpich equation: $T_c = 0.0195L^{0.77}S^{-0.385}$ Where $T_c$ = time of concentration, L = flow length, S = average watershed slope
• SCS Curve Number method estimates direct runoff from storm rainfall: $Q = \frac{(P - 0.2S)^2}{P + 0.8S}$ Where Q = runoff, P = rainfall, S = potential maximum retention

Statistical Methods for Hydrologic Analysis

• Frequency analysis techniques determine probability of extreme hydrologic events: Gumbel distribution: $F(x) = e^{-e^{-(x-\mu)/\beta}}$ Log-Pearson Type III distribution
• Intensity-Duration-Frequency (IDF) curves relate rainfall intensity to storm duration and return period
• Mann-Kendall test detects trends in hydrologic time series data

Groundwater and Water Balance Calculations

• Darcy's Law calculates groundwater flow rates: $Q = -KA\frac{dh}{dl}$ Where Q = flow rate, K = hydraulic conductivity, A = cross-sectional area, dh/dl = hydraulic gradient
• Thornthwaite method estimates evapotranspiration and soil moisture storage: $PET = 16(\frac{10T}{I})^a$ Where PET = potential evapotranspiration, T = mean monthly temperature, I = heat index, a = empirical exponent
• Water balance equation: $P = Q + E + \Delta S$ Where P = precipitation, Q = runoff, E = evapotranspiration, ΔS = change in storage