Hydrology Concepts Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What does the term 'Hydrology' combine and what does it broadly mean?

Hydrology combines 'Hydro' meaning water and 'Logus' meaning study, broadly defined as the study of water.

According to Penman (1961), what fundamental question does hydrology attempt to answer?

Hydrology attempts to answer the question, 'What happens to the rain?'

What was the total annual precipitation volume mentioned in the national water resources data?

The total annual precipitation volume is 4000 Cu.Km.

What is the estimated utilizable surface water resource quantity as stated in the data?

The estimated utilizable surface water resources are 690 Cu.Km. Signup and view all the answers

In 1997, what was the per capita water availability according to the document?

The per capita water availability in 1997 was 1967 Cu.Km. Signup and view all the answers

What does the equation $\Delta S = I - O$ represent in hydrological studies?

It represents the change in storage over a time interval as the difference between inflow and outflow. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of volumetric terms, how can the storage change be expressed?

It can be expressed as $S(T) - S(0) = VI(T) - VO(T)$. Signup and view all the answers

What are the components included in the comprehensive hydrological equation presented?

The components are surface soil moisture, groundwater, interception, precipitation, basin yield, evaporation, transpiration, and flow. Signup and view all the answers

What aspects are generally overlooked in the simplified hydrological study approach?

Details of runoff hydrographs, geometry, topographic features, friction factors, and hydraulics of direct runoff are not concerned. Signup and view all the answers

What factors influence the choice of hydrological study approaches?

User requirements, the nature of the problem, and the desired accuracy and simplicity influence the choice. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important for any hydrological analysis to satisfy the spatially lumped continuity equation?

Satisfying this equation ensures the valid conservation of mass within the hydrological system being analyzed. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'hydrological abstraction' refer to in the context of this content?

Hydrological abstraction pertains to processes like evaporation, transpiration, and interception that remove water from the system. Signup and view all the answers

How is average inflow over a time interval connected to the change in storage and outflow?

The average inflow, when adjusted by outflow, helps to determine the net change in storage over that time interval. Signup and view all the answers

What are the four key components involved in the system evaluations of hydrological study approaches?

The four components are construction of an objective function, use of goodness-of-fit criterion, sensitivity analysis, and error analysis. Signup and view all the answers

How does the space scale in hydrology vary from largest to smallest?

The space scale varies from global scale as the largest to watershed scale as the smallest. Signup and view all the answers

What time intervals are commonly used for data collection in hydrological studies?

Commonly used time intervals include hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, or seasonal. Signup and view all the answers

Define drizzle in terms of its droplet size and intensity.

Drizzle consists of numerous water droplets with a size of less than 0.5 mm and an intensity of less than 1 mm/hr. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes glaze precipitation, and at what temperature does it typically form?

Glaze is characterized by an ice coating formed when rain or drizzle contacts cold ground at around 0°C. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the formation of sleet in the context of weather conditions.

Sleet is formed by simultaneous precipitation of snow and rain. Signup and view all the answers

What are the characteristics of hail, and how does it differ from snow?

Hail consists of lumps of ice greater than 8 mm in size, while snow is made of small ice crystals that combine to form flakes. Signup and view all the answers

In hydrology, why is sensitivity analysis important during model validation?

Sensitivity analysis is important as it assesses how variation in model inputs affects outputs, indicating model robustness. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'objective function' refer to in hydrological studies?

The objective function is a mathematical formulation that aims to minimize the difference between observed and modeled data. Signup and view all the answers

How might the time scale for a hydrological study be determined?

The time scale may be determined by the purpose of the study and the frequency of available data collection. Signup and view all the answers

What is orthographic precipitation and how does it occur?

Orthographic precipitation occurs when moist air is forced to rise over a mountain barrier, resulting in heavy rainfall on the windward side and less rainfall on the leeward side. Signup and view all the answers

Describe convective precipitation and the conditions necessary for its occurrence.

Convective precipitation occurs when warm, moist air rises, leading to rainfall as the air cools in the atmosphere. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two main types of cyclones and how do they differ?

The two main types of cyclones are tropical cyclones, which form over warm ocean waters, and extra tropical cyclones, which can form over land or cooler waters, often associated with frontal systems. Signup and view all the answers

How does the direction of wind impact cyclone formation in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres?

In the Northern Hemisphere, winds blow in an anti-clockwise direction around low-pressure areas, while in the Southern Hemisphere, they blow clockwise. Signup and view all the answers

Explain how the presence of a mountain range influences precipitation patterns in an area.

Mountain ranges can cause uneven precipitation patterns, with heavy rainfall on the windward side due to rising moist air and drier conditions on the leeward side due to descending air. Signup and view all the answers

What is the approximate total area covered by major and medium river basins?

About 1,273,741 sq km. Signup and view all the answers

By 2050, what proportion of the global population is projected to live in urban areas?

More than half of the global population. Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the major challenges related to water supplies due to population growth?

Inter-Sector Redistribution. Signup and view all the answers

What is an anti cyclone and how does wind circulate in the Northern and Southern hemispheres?

An anti cyclone is a high pressure region where wind circulates clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. Signup and view all the answers

What is the projected global water renewal supply per person?

7000 m3 per person per year. Signup and view all the answers

What are two major environmental concerns associated with building dams?

Displacement of people and adverse environmental effects. Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of India's annual rainfall is received during the south-west monsoon?

75% of India's annual rainfall occurs during the south-west monsoon. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by artificial recharge in water management?

It's the process of spreading water on land to infiltrate into the soil and replenish groundwater. Signup and view all the answers

During which season does India experience moderate to heavy rainfall due to western disturbances?

India experiences moderate to heavy rainfall during the winter season from December to February. Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant consequence of excessive groundwater pumping?

Aquifer depletion. Signup and view all the answers

What causes the transition I precipitation that occurs in Tamil Nadu and coastal areas?

Transition I precipitation is caused by severe tropical cyclones forming in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea. Signup and view all the answers

Name two types of water pollution sources mentioned in the content?

Point source and nonpoint source pollution. Signup and view all the answers

In which states of India is very little rainfall expected during the summer transition II season?

Very little rainfall is expected in Kerala, West Bengal, and Assam during the summer transition II season. Signup and view all the answers

What is the water surface elevation of the lake at the beginning of the month mentioned in the example?

The water surface elevation of the lake is 102.30 m above datum. Signup and view all the answers

What was the public response in Kerala, India, regarding Coca-Cola and PepsiCo products?

A ban was imposed due to unsafe levels of pesticides. Signup and view all the answers

What is the importance of the water renewal supply value in assessing water availability?

It indicates the sustainability of water resources for future populations. Signup and view all the answers

What type of weather is typically associated with an anti cyclone?

An anti cyclone is typically associated with dry and stable weather. Signup and view all the answers

In what way does urbanization contribute to water management challenges?

It increases water demand and sewage flows in cities. Signup and view all the answers

What is the duration of the south-west monsoon in India?

The south-west monsoon lasts from June to September. Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of fresh water is typically used for domestic purposes?

8%. Signup and view all the answers

What is a recommended solution to address agricultural groundwater pollution?

Desalination of water and using salt-tolerant plants. Signup and view all the answers

What challenge does sedimentation present to dam sustainability?

It reduces the storage capacity of the dam. Signup and view all the answers

How does urban migration impact water supply management?

It escalates demand for water resources in urban areas. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Hydrology Introduction

Hydrology is the study of water
It combines "Hydro" (water) and "Logus" (study)
In a broad sense, hydrology is the study of water

Hydrology Questions

Hydrology attempts to answer the question "What happens to the rain?" (Penman, 1961)
This seems simple, but quantitative descriptions of water processes are complicated

National Water Resources

Annual precipitation volume (including snowfall): 4000 Cu. Km
Average annual potential flow in rivers: 1869 Cu. Km
Per capita water availability (1997): 1967 Cu. Km
Estimated utilizable water resources: 1122 Cu. Km.
- Surface water resources: 690 Cu. Km.
- Ground water resources: 432 Cu. Km.

Major River Basins

Several major river basins are identified
- Indus
- Ganga-Brahm-Meghna
- Godavari
- etc.

Population Growth and Water Supplies

Projections indicate that over half the global population will be urban by 2050.
Water resource availability is a major concern
Data visualization/maps showing water scarcity regions

Water Pollution

Point source pollution (sewage and industrial waste)
Nonpoint source pollution (agriculture-fertilizers, pesticides, and salts)

Climate Change

Global average precipitation and its variability will increase
Monsoon rainfall over India's north and central plains will decrease.
Global average evaporation will increase

Water Storage

Dams are traditional water storage methods; good sites are scarce
Disadvantages include adverse environmental effects, displacing people, increased waterborne diseases, and evaporation losses, and no sustainability (lose capacity due to sedimentation)
Artificial recharge is by putting water on the surface where it infiltrates the ground and moves to groundwater resources
- In-channel (L-shaped levees for spreading water)
- Off-channel (specially constructed ponds or basins)
- Infiltration trenches
- Injection wells

Conjunctive Use

Often, surface and ground water are used together.
However, pumping more groundwater can lead to aquifer depletion and saltwater intrusion, resulting in higher pumping costs

Rise in Groundwater Use

A graph showing the increase of groundwater usage across many countries over time
Data suggests that the usage of groundwater is rising consistently across the globe

Groundwater Use - India

Data visualization/charts illustrating groundwater use in India, broken down by time periods and region.
Map illustrating stages of groundwater development in India.

Water Table Decline

Map illustrating the difference in water table over time (1970 versus 1994)

Methodology

Mathematical statement of hydrological cycle (Inflow, System, outflow)
Spatially lumped, continuous equation
Volumetric representation of hydrological cycle
Hydrology abstraction for basin yield

Space and Time Scales in Hydrology

Space-time factors affect hydrological problem analysis
The purpose of study and the problem involved will influence the temporal scale
Collection of data will influence the time scale

Precipitation Classification

Precipitation classified based on formation (warm air, freezing rain, sleet, snow)
Precipitation classified based on form (rain, drizzle, glaze, sleet, snow, hail)
Precipitation types relating to mountain barriers (orthographic), heating up of ground surfaces (convective), and cyclone occurrences (cyclone and anticyclone)

Characteristics of Precipitation in India

Seasonal rainfall patterns (southwest monsoon, transition, winter, transition, summer)
Specific geographical locations for rainfall patterns in India (maps showing geographical location)

Hydrological Study Approaches

Physical Science Approach: Basic, Pure, Causal, dynamic, and theoretical research.
Systems Approach: Operational, applied, empirical, Black-box, or parametric research

Choosing Between Approaches

User requirements (accuracy, simplicity, and amount of information)
Problem characteristics (data availability and computational facility)
Economic factors
Objective function, goodness-of-fit criterion, sensitivity analysis, and error analysis are used

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Description

Test your knowledge on the fundamental concepts of hydrology, including definitions, significant equations, and factors influencing water resources. This quiz covers key questions regarding annual precipitation, water availability, and the hydrological equation. Perfect for students and enthusiasts of environmental science!