Hydrology and Climatology Quiz

Course Information

• Course Title: Hydrology and Climatology
• Course Code: ES 1104

Assessment Procedure

• End Semester Examination (Theory Paper, 2 hours): 70%
• Continuous Assessments: 30%
  • 2 Quizzes
  • 2 Assignments/Presentations/Group Works

Attendance Policy

• Students:
  • 80% attendance is required for the end-semester exam (theory and practical)
  • Absence excuses must be submitted to the lecturer in charge immediately after the missed class (except for medical or sports related absences)
• Lecturers:
  • Inform students about attendance policies at the start of the semester.
  • Submit attendance sheets to the relevant personnel immediately after each lecture.
  • Submit excused student absences to the relevant personnel as soon as received.

Course Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

• Describe the basic components of the hydrological cycle
• Apply runoff estimation methods for watersheds.
• Explain the unique characteristics of the atmosphere and its role in controlling global climate.
• Demonstrate the use of instruments to measure atmospheric parameters.
• Recognize potential causes of climate change.

Importance of Hydrology

• Water is central to economic and social development.
• Water is essential for health, food production, energy generation, environmental management, and job creation.
• Agricultural graduates need to understand hydrology to improve food production, manage the environment, and manage water resources, soil, and nutrients.

Demand for Hydrologists

• Students pursuing hydrology need strong backgrounds in mathematics, statistics, geology, physics, computer science, chemistry, and biology.
• Hydrologists with agricultural backgrounds play a crucial role in sustainable development.

Introduction to Hydrology

• Hydrology is the study of the occurrence, distribution, movement, and properties of Earth's water and its relationship with the environment in every phase of the hydrologic cycle.

Classification of Hydrology

• Scientific Hydrology: Focuses on the academic aspects.
• Engineering/Applied Hydrology: Focuses on practical applications, water resources, precipitation, runoff, floods, and droughts.

Hydrological Cycle

• The continuous movement of water between the Earth's spheres (atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere).
• Water exists in various states(solid, liquid, gas).
• The cycle includes processes like evaporation, transpiration, precipitation, runoff, and infiltration.

Earth Spheres

• Biosphere (Ecosphere): The sum of all ecosystems, including living organisms and abiotic factors.
• Lithosphere: The rigid, outermost shell of the Earth.
• Hydrosphere: The total amount of water on, under, and above the Earth's surface.
• Atmosphere: The layer of gases surrounding a planet.

Hydrological Cycle Processes

• Evaporation: The process of liquid water changing into water vapor (gas). Represents 90% of moisture movement.
• Transpiration: The loss of water from plants through their stomata. Represents 10% of moisture movement.
• Precipitation: The processes by which water falls from the atmosphere to the Earth’s surface in the forms of rain, sleet, snow, or hail.
• Condensation: Gas forms into liquid water, a key part of the precipitation cycle.

Precipitation (Cont.)

• Types of precipitation: Different forms (rain, snow, sleet, hail, drizzle, mist) depending on temperature in the atmosphere.

Precipitation Measurement

• Precipitation depth.
• Common rain gauge types: standard (non-recording), tipping bucket, weighing (recording).

Data Preparation

• Before using precipitation records, check for their continuity and consistency:
• Missing data can be estimated by using data from neighboring stations.

Missing Data Estimation

• Various methods including simple arithmetic, normal ratio, modified normal ratio and inverse distance.

Formation of Precipitation

• Collision-coalescence theory, Bergeron-Findeisen theory