Hydrology and Precipitation Analysis
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Questions and Answers

What type of function is usually used to weight each day's precipitation?

  • Linear function
  • Quadratic function
  • Logarithmic function
  • Exponential or reciprocal function (correct)

What does the area-elevation curve illustrate?

  • The total rainfall in a region
  • The average precipitation rate across different elevations
  • The area of a river basin above a certain elevation (correct)
  • The elevation of natural features in the basin

How is areal precipitation expressed?

  • As a percentage of total rainfall
  • As the total volume of rainwater
  • As the average depth of liquid water over a specified area (correct)
  • As the rate of rainfall per second

What does the areal reduction factor of rainfall compare?

<p>Mean point rainfall to mean areal rainfall for the same duration (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is primarily referred to when mentioning 'average' in ordinary usage?

<p>Arithmetic mean (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is average velocity in relation to discharge?

<p>Discharge divided by cross-sectional area at right angles to flow (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does bankfull discharge refer to?

<p>Discharge conveyed without overtopping the banks (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How is the base-width of a flood hydrograph defined?

<p>Time interval of direct runoff produced by a storm (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term basin response refer to?

<p>The manner in which a basin reacts to meteorological events (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of calibration in measurement instruments?

<p>To determine the relationship between quantity measured and instrument indication (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What defines a climatic year?

<p>A continuous twelve-month period for a complete climatic cycle (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How is channel frequency calculated?

<p>Number of stream segments divided by the basin area (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the coefficient of determination express?

<p>Proportion of variance of dependent variate explained by independent variates (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of the station-year method?

<p>To create a single record from multiple independent station records. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes hydrological processes analyzed through probability theory?

<p>Statistical hydrology (C), Stochastic hydrology (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How is storm runoff defined?

<p>Immediate surface runoff that reaches the catchment outlet after rain starts. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by storm transposition?

<p>Transferring the observed storm pattern to a different but similar basin. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which equation describes the balance of inflows, outflows, and storage changes in a water body?

<p>Storage equation (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the storm duration?

<p>The period between the beginning and end of precipitation. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What technique is used to compute the movement of a flood wave through a river?

<p>Stream routing (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does structural flood mitigation refer to?

<p>Physical systems designed to reduce flood impacts. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What defines a normal in meteorological terms?

<p>Period averages calculated over at least thirty consecutive years (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'n-year event' in hydrology?

<p>A hydrological event with a return period of n years (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes orographic precipitation?

<p>Precipitation caused by moist air ascending orographic barriers (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'outflow' refer to in hydrology?

<p>The flow of water out of various bodies like streams or reservoirs (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In hydrology, what are outliers?

<p>Values that are significantly different from others in the sample (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'overbank flow' refer to?

<p>Flow of water over land when streamflow exceeds capacity (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a 'parameter' in hydrology?

<p>A coefficient involved in hydrological models that can be adjusted (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'peak flow' refer to in hydrological terms?

<p>The maximum instantaneous discharge of a hydrograph (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is surface flow?

<p>The part of precipitation that flows on the ground surface. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following does not contribute to surface retention?

<p>Surface runoff (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes a totalizer precipitation gauge?

<p>It records measurements only at long-spaced time intervals. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of time of concentration in the context of hydrology?

<p>The period required for runoff to reach the outlet from the farthest point in a drainage basin. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does a Thiessen polygon represent?

<p>Polygons formed by the perpendicular bisectors of lines joining adjacent rainfall stations. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes the time it takes for a water parcel to travel downstream?

<p>Travel time (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does a synthetic hydrograph use for its development?

<p>Estimation of coefficients based on catchment features. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a method used for tracer dilution gauging?

<p>Determining discharge by measuring tracer solution dilution. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What defines a twin-gauge station in hydrology?

<p>A gauging station where two water level gauges monitor the same water body. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a unit hydrograph?

<p>A hydrograph of direct runoff resulting from a unit amount of effective rainfall. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which best describes urban hydrology?

<p>It studies hydrology in areas with significant impervious surfaces due to development. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'variance' refer to in statistics?

<p>The second central moment of a frequency distribution. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the velocity-area method?

<p>To measure discharge by assessing velocities across a stream's cross-section. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a V-notch weir?

<p>A sharp-crested measuring weir with a downward pointing apex. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is indicated by water balance in hydrology?

<p>Water gain must equal losses plus changes in storage over time. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does a velocity curve represent?

<p>The distribution of flow velocity points across a vertical line in a stream. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Applied Hydrology

A type of hydrology that focuses on applying hydrological principles to manage and develop water resources.

Area-elevation Curve

A curve representing the proportion of a river basin's area located above a given elevation.

Areal Precipitation

The average depth of liquid precipitation over a specific geographical area.

Areal Reduction Factor

The ratio between the average rainfall over a region and the rainfall at a single point within that region, for a specific duration and frequency.

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Arithmetic Mean

The sum of a set of values divided by the number of values. It's a common way to represent a typical value.

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Average Velocity

The average speed of something over a certain period of time.

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Bankfull Discharge

The discharge of a watercourse without its banks overflowing.

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Bankfull Stage

The level at which a stream starts to overtop its natural banks.

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Base-width (of a flood hydrograph)

The time between the start and end of the direct runoff produced by a storm.

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Basin

The area where surface runoff flows to a common outlet.

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Calibration

A graphical representation of the relationship between the quantity being measured and the instrument's indication.

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Average Year

The long-term average of a specific hydrological or meteorological quantity.

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Basin Response

The way a basin reacts to weather events or patterns.

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Normals

Average values of meteorological or hydrological variables calculated over a period of at least 30 consecutive years.

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n-year event

The magnitude of a hydrological event that occurs on average once every 'n' years.

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Optimal design

The process of designing a system by optimizing variables to maximize an objective function (like net benefits) while meeting design criteria.

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Orographic precipitation

Precipitation caused by air rising over mountains, forcing moisture to condense.

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Outflow

The flow of water out of a stream, lake, reservoir, or other water body.

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Outliers

Data points in a sample that are significantly different from the rest, potentially indicating measurement errors or a different population.

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Overbank flow channel

Flat land alongside a stream that is flooded only when the streamflow exceeds its channel capacity.

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Overland flow

The flow of water across the ground surface before it enters a defined channel.

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Station-Year Method

A method combining data from multiple weather stations, treating them as one long record, used for analyzing rainfall frequency.

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Statistical Hydrology

The study of water-related events and processes using probability and statistics.

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Stochastic Process

A process where values change over time or space, creating a pattern of variation. Often used to model water events.

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Storage Equation

A mathematical equation showing how the amount of water stored in a body changes over time, taking inflow, outflow, and storage into account.

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Storage Precipitation Gauge

A precipitation gauge placed at stations that are visited only at long intervals, meaning it collects data less frequently.

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Storm

A heavy rainfall event, possibly accompanied by wind, that can produce significant runoff.

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Storm Duration

The duration of rainfall, either for the entire storm or above a specific rainfall intensity threshold.

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Storm Runoff

The quick runoff that flows into a river channel immediately after rainfall starts, excluding base flow.

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Surface Runoff

The portion of precipitation that directly flows over the ground's surface.

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Surface Water

The water that flows over or is stored on the Earth's surface.

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Surface Water Hydrology

The branch of hydrology that studies water movement and processes on the Earth's surface, particularly overland flow.

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Surface Retention

The volume of precipitation intercepted by vegetation, stored in depressions, and evaporated during and shortly after a rainfall event.

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Time of Concentration

The time it takes for storm runoff to flow from the furthest point in a drainage basin to its outlet.

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Tracer Dilution Gauging

A method used to estimate a river's discharge by measuring the dilution of a tracer solution added to the flow.

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Trend

A long-term, smooth movement in a series of measurements taken over time.

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Travel Time

The time it takes for a water packet to travel from one point to another downstream.

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Ideal Value

The idea of a perfect measurement value that we could only achieve if we eliminated all sources of error. It represents the theoretical ideal.

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Twin-Gauge Station

A measurement station with two water level gauges defining a specific stretch of water. This helps analyze water surface slopes to understand how water flows.

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Unit Hydrograph

The graph showing the direct runoff (water flowing off the land) caused by a specific amount of rainfall over a set time. It helps us analyze how quickly the water moves.

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Urban Hydrology

A specialized area of hydrology that studies how water behaves in cities. It focuses on the impact of buildings, roads, and altered landscapes on water flow.

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Variable

A quantity with multiple possible values within a defined set. It changes, but its potential values are known.

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Variance

A measure of how spread out a set of values is from the average. It's calculated by averaging the squared differences from the mean.

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Variate

A quantity that can take on different values within a set, with a specific probability or frequency. It's a variable with a defined chance of each value.

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Velocity Curve

A curve that shows how the speed of water changes across the width of a river or stream.

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Study Notes

Hydrology Terminology

  • Accumulative precipitation gauge: A precipitation gauge used at stations visited infrequently, typically at long intervals.
  • Active basin area: The basin area excluding undrained parts.
  • Actual evaporation: The quantity of water evaporated from an open water surface or the ground.
  • Actual evapotranspiration: The sum of water evaporated from the soil and plants, considering the ground's natural moisture content.
  • Advection: The process of transferring air-mass properties by atmospheric winds.
  • Altitude: Vertical distance from mean sea level
  • Annual exceedence series: Series of values of independent events (e.g., floods), exceeding a specific base value, equal to the number of years recorded.
  • Annual flood: The highest peak discharge in a water year or the flood exceeded annually on average.
  • Annual flow: Total volume of water flowing (usually outflow) from a drainage area or river basin in a year.
  • Annual maximum series: A set of extreme-value series of the largest annual values.
  • Annual minimum series: A set of extreme-value series of the smallest annual values.
  • Annual runoff: Total volume of water flowing from a drainage area or river basin in a year.
  • Annual series: Hydrological element of a characteristic or element for each year.
  • Annual storage: Volume of water storable in a reservoir.
  • Annual storage capacity: Maximum volume of water storable in a reservoir.
  • Antecedent precipitation index: Weighted summation of past daily precipitation amounts, used to gauge soil moisture.

Additional Hydrology Concepts

  • Arithmetic mean: The sum of values divided by their count.
  • Area-elevation curve: Curve showing the area of a river basin above a given elevation.
  • Areal precipitation: Average precipitation depth across a specific geographic area.
  • Areal reduction factor (of rainfall): Ratio of mean areal rainfall to mean point rainfall.
  • Arithmetic mean: Sum of values divided by their count.
  • Automatic station: Station with automated instruments that record or transmit data automatically.
  • Average velocity: Discharge divided by cross-sectional area (at right angles to flow).
  • Average year: A year in which the observed hydrological or meteorological quantity equals the long-term average.
  • Bank-full discharge: Discharge in a water course without overflowing the surrounding banks.
  • Bank-full stage: Water level when the stream overflows its natural banks.
  • Base-width (of a flood hydrograph): Time interval between the start and finish of the direct runoff of a storm.
  • Basin: Drainage area of a stream, river, or lake.
  • Basin response: Manner in which a drainage basin responds to a meteorological event or series of events.
  • Basin response: Reaction of a basin to a meteorological event or series of events.
  • Basin response: How a basin reacts to a meteorological event.
  • Base width (of a flood hydrograph): Time interval from the beginning to the end of direct runoff.
  • Base width (of a flood hydrograph): Duration of the direct runoff from the beginning to the end.
  • Base width (of a flood hydrograph): Interval of time from start to end of direct runoff.
  • Best approximation: The best guess of the true value, often the mean of multiple calculations.
  • Bubble gauge: Measuring device using a gas-purged system to measure water levels.
  • Calibration: Determining the relationship between instrument readings and the measured quantity.
  • Catchment area / Catchment: Area with a common outlet for surface runoff.
  • Catchment response: How a basin reacts to meteorological events.
  • Channel frequency: Number of stream segments of all orders divided by the area.
  • Channel network: Arrangement of natural or man-made drainage channels.
  • Clear overflow weir: Weir with unobstructed flow, not submerged by tail water.
  • Climate: Long-term synthesis of weather conditions.
  • Climatic change: Significant change in regional climate.
  • Climatic year: Continuous 12-month period covering a complete climatic cycle.
  • Climatological station: A station for hydrological purposes which collects additional climatological data.
  • Coefficient of determination: Square of correlation coefficient, representing the proportion of variance explained.
  • Coefficient of variation: Ratio of standard deviation to mean, measuring relative variability.
  • Compound weir: Weir with multiple sections, possibly of different types and dimensions.
  • Conceptual hydrological model: Simplified representation of hydrological processes.
  • Conditional probability: Probability of event E given the occurrence of event F (Pr(E/F)).
  • Confidence interval: Interval likely to include the true value with a specified probability (confidence level).
  • Confidence level: Probability that a confidence interval contains the true value.
  • Confidence limits: Values defining the lower and upper bounds of the confidence interval.
  • Constant-rate dilution gauging: Measuring flow rates by injecting a tracer of known concentration.
  • Continental hydrology: Study of hydrological processes on continents, focusing on the continental phase of the water cycle.
  • Continuity equation: Equation expressing conservation of water mass.
  • Convective precipitation: Precipitation caused by convective atmospheric movements.
  • Correlation: Interdependence or relationship between two measurable quantities.
  • Correlation coefficient: Measure of interdependence between two variables.

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This quiz covers essential concepts in hydrology, focusing on precipitation, discharge, and water balance. Examine your understanding of terms like areal precipitation, flood hydrograph, and basin response. Ideal for students studying environmental science and water resource management.

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