Hydrology Quiz: Key Concepts and Terminology
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Questions and Answers

What is the definition of bankfull discharge?

  • Discharge conveyed in a water course without overtopping the banks. (correct)
  • Discharge conveyed when overtopping occurs.
  • Discharge when the stream is completely dry.
  • Discharge during a storm event exceeding its average.

Which term describes the area that has a common outlet for its surface runoff?

  • Drainage basin
  • Catchment area (correct)
  • Hydrological unit
  • Floodplain

What does the term climatic change refer to?

  • Variability in weather patterns within a single year.
  • Annual fluctuations in precipitation levels.
  • Minor changes in local temperature over a season.
  • Significant change observed in the climate of a region between two reference periods. (correct)

What does the term 'base-width of a flood hydrograph' refer to?

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

What is indicated by the coefficient of determination?

<p>The proportion of variance in the dependent variate explained by independent variates. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the average year in hydrology?

<p>Year for which observed hydrological quantity equals long term average. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of a climatological station for hydrological purposes?

<p>To augment existing climatological networks for hydrological needs. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes bankfull stage?

<p>Stage at which a stream just overflows its natural banks. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does a depletion curve represent?

<p>A decreasing rate of runoff or discharge due to depletion (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a datum level in hydrology?

<p>To relate elevations to a defined horizontal reference surface (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'design storm' refer to?

<p>The specific rainfall distribution used to define a potential flood (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How is detention storage defined in hydrological terms?

<p>Precipitation temporarily stored before entering the stream system (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a depth-area-duration analysis?

<p>An assessment of the relationship between rainfall depth and area during a storm (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does a depth-duration curve illustrate?

<p>The relationship between average rainfall depth and storm duration (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes deterministic hydrology?

<p>Analyzing hydrological processes through a deterministic lens (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does depression storage refer to in hydrology?

<p>Volume of water needed to fill small depressions to overflow (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of a hydrological network?

<p>To study the hydrological regime within a specific area (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which element is commonly measured at a hydrological observing station?

<p>Water temperature (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What defines the hydrological regime?

<p>Seasonal variations in a water body's state and characteristics (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is hydrometry primarily concerned with?

<p>The measurement and analysis of water (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a hydrometric station?

<p>A point for obtaining data on water in rivers and lakes (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'hydrosphere' refer to?

<p>All the water and ice covering the Earth (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of a hydrological year?

<p>A continuous 12-month period with minimal storage changes (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What aspect does hydrometeorology emphasize?

<p>The relationship between land and atmospheric phases of the hydrological cycle (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the intensity-duration-frequency curve represent?

<p>The probability of various short-period rainfall rates for different durations (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an instantaneous unit hydrograph?

<p>A unit hydrograph from a unit amount of effective precipitation applied instantly (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does an isohyet line represent?

<p>Equally received amounts of precipitation over a specified time (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is described by the lag-time in hydrology?

<p>The time from the centre of mass of rainfall to the peak of runoff (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does a kurtosis measure in a frequency distribution?

<p>The flatness of the frequency distribution or probability curve (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is lateral inflow?

<p>Water inflow along a river, lake, or reservoir from adjacent catchment areas (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which method estimates quantities like mean velocity in vertical measurements?

<p>Integration method (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is limnology?

<p>The science that studies lakes and reservoirs including hydrological phenomena (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'normals' refer to in meteorological studies?

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

Which of the following describes 'overland flow'?

<p>Flow of water over the ground before it enters a definite channel (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the median in the context of a continuous frequency distribution?

<p>The value that divides total frequency into two equal halves (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is 'orographic precipitation' caused by?

<p>The ascent of moist air over orographic barriers (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'peak discharge' refer to?

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

What is defined as the least value of discharge in a stream during a hydrological year?

<p>Minimum annual discharge (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by 'parametric hydrology'?

<p>Method using a deterministic approach to analyze hydrological responses (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In a distribution, what is the mode?

<p>The value that occurs most frequently (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which term refers to the adjustment of model parameters to achieve the best agreement between observed data and model output?

<p>Model calibration (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes 'outflow'?

<p>Water discharged from a lake, stream, or reservoir (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of a '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 is the primary function of meteorological radar?

<p>To detect and locate objects using electromagnetic radiation (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What indicates 'outliers' in a sample?

<p>Values significantly different from the rest of the data (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How is a model defined in the context of hydrology?

<p>A mathematical representation of a basin or water system (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does a moment represent in statistical terms?

<p>The mean value of a power of a variate (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a medium-term hydrological forecast?

<p>A forecast for a period of two to ten days (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Average Velocity

The average speed of a fluid over a given time period.

Discharge

The discharge of a stream or river, divided by the cross-sectional area of its channel.

Base-Width of a Flood Hydrograph

The time it takes for water to flow from the beginning to the end of the direct runoff produced by a storm.

Basin

The area that contributes water to a specific outlet, such as a stream or lake.

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Basin Response

The way a basin responds to meteorological events, like rainfall.

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Calibration

The relationship between the measured quantity and the instrument's readings.

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Catchment Area

The area that drains into a common outlet, like a stream or river.

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Catchment Response

The way a basin reacts to meteorological events, like rainfall.

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Data Bank

A comprehensive set of related data files for a specific application, usually on a direct access storage device.

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Data Collection System

A coordinated system for collecting observations from a hydrological network and transmitting them to a data-processing facility.

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Data Processing

The handling of observational data until it's ready for a specific purpose.

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Datum Level

A horizontal surface used as a reference to which elevations are related.

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Decay Rate

The rate at which a quantity, like a pollutant or a radioactive isotope, decreases in concentration or activity.

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Depletion Curve

A curve showing a decreasing rate of runoff or discharge, caused by depletion.

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Depression Storage

The volume of water needed to fill small depressions until they overflow.

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Total Depth of Runoff

The volume of runoff from a drainage basin divided by its area over a specific time.

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Hydrology

The science of water on Earth, including its occurrence, circulation, distribution, properties, and interactions with the environment.

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Hydrological network

A collection of hydrological stations and observing posts within a specific area, like a river basin, that is used to study the hydrological regime.

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Hydrological observation

Direct measurement or assessment of hydrological elements like water level, flow, temperature, etc.

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Hydrological observing station

A place where hydrological or related observations for hydrological purposes are made.

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Hydrological regime

Recurring patterns of changes in a water body's state and characteristics over time and space, like seasonal variations.

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Hydrological station for specific purposes

A hydrological station designed to specifically observe particular elements or phenomena related to water.

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Hydrological year

A continuous 12-month period chosen to minimize overall storage changes and carryover effects.

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Hydrometeorology

The study of the atmospheric and land-based phases of the hydrological cycle, focusing on their interactions.

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Mode

The most frequent value in a set of data. In a continuous distribution, it refers to the value with the highest probability density.

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Model

A representation of a real-world system or process, often using mathematical equations or computer simulations. In hydrology, models are used to understand and predict water behavior.

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Model Calibration

The process of adjusting the parameters of a model to achieve the best fit with observed data.

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Minimum Annual Discharge

The least amount of water flow in a stream over a year.

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Meteorology

The science of the Earth's atmosphere.

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Medium-Term Hydrological Forecast

A prediction of water flow in a river or lake for a period between 2 and 10 days.

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Meteorological Radar

A method using electromagnetic radiation to detect, locate, and quantify objects. Used to measure altitude and create terrain images.

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Median

The value that divides a set of data into two equal halves when arranged in order. For an odd number of data points, it's the middle value. For an even number, it's the average of the two middle values.

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Intensity-Duration Curve

A curve showing the relationship between the average rainfall depth or intensity in a given area and the storm duration.

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Intensity-Duration-Frequency Curve

A curve showing the probability of various short-period rainfall rates for various durations of precipitation at a given location. Often a family of curves is shown, each depicting a specific occurrence frequency or return period in years.

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Hypsometric Curve

A curve showing what part of the area of a river basin is situated above an indicated elevation.

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Interflow

That portion of the precipitation which has not passed down to the water table, but is discharged from the area as subsurface flow into stream channels. Flow of water from ephemeral zones of saturation. It moves through the upper strata of a formation at a rate much in excess of normal base-flow seepage.

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Instantaneous Unit Hydrograph

Unit hydrograph resulting from unit amount of effective precipitation applied to a drainage basin in an infinitesimally short time.

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Integral Curve

Curve of an accumulated quantity versus time.

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Isochrone Map

Map or chart of a drainage basin in which a series of lines (isochrones) gives the times of travel of water originating on each isochrone to reach the outlet of the basin.

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Isohyet

Line joining the points where the amount of precipitation, in a given period, is the same.

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Parametric Hydrology

A method of analyzing hydrological processes using a deterministic approach to understand how hydrological systems respond to various parameters.

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Orographic Precipitation

Precipitation that occurs when moist air is forced to rise over mountains or other elevated terrain, leading to condensation and rainfall.

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Overbank Flow Channel

A nearly flat area near a stream that floods only when the streamflow exceeds the channel's capacity.

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Overland Flow

Flow of water over the ground before it enters a defined channel, such as a river or stream.

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Partial Duration Series

Series of values from independent events, like floods, that exceed a given base value without being restricted by the number of occurrences within a specific period.

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Parameter

A coefficient in a hydrological model, formula, or relationship that can be adjusted to apply it to specific cases.

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Peak Discharge

The maximum instantaneous discharge of a hydrograph, representing the peak flow rate at a specific point in time.

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n-Year Event

The magnitude of a hydrological event, such as a flood, that has a return period of 'n' years, meaning it's expected to occur once every 'n' years.

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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 amount of water evaporated from an open water surface or the ground.
  • Actual Evapotranspiration: The total amount of water evaporated from soil and plants with natural moisture content.
  • Advection: The transfer of air-mass properties by atmospheric velocity.
  • Altitude: Vertical distance from mean sea level.
  • Annual Exceedence Series: A series of values of independent events (e.g., floods) exceeding a base value, the number of values equivalent to the years in the record.
  • Annual Flood: The highest peak discharge within a water year, or a flood equalled or exceeded on average once per year.
  • Annual Flow: The total volume of water flowing out of a drainage basin or river basin in a year.
  • Annual Maximum Series: A series of extreme-value data with the largest annual values.
  • Annual Minimum Series: A series of extreme-value data with the smallest annual values.
  • Annual Runoff: The total volume of water flowing out of a drainage basin or river basin in a year.
  • Annual Series: Data representing some characteristic or element for each year in a series of years.
  • Annual Storage: The volume of water that can be held in a reservoir to compensate for seasonal variations in inflow and demand.
  • Annual Storage Capacity: The volume of water that can be held in a reservoir to compensate for seasonal variations in inflow and demand.
  • Antecedent Precipitation Index: A weighted summation of past daily precipitation amounts used to gauge soil moisture.

Other Terms

  • Area-Elevation Curve: A curve that displays the part of a river basin above a specified elevation.
  • Areal Precipitation: An average precipitation depth over a specific area.
  • Areal Reduction Factor (of Rainfall): The ratio of mean areal rainfall to mean point rainfall for the same duration and return period.
  • Arithmetic Mean: The sum of values divided by the number of values.
  • Automatic Station: A station with instruments that automatically record and potentially transmit data.
  • Average: Typically the arithmetic mean.
  • Average Velocity: Discharge divided by the cross-sectional area perpendicular to the flow direction.
  • Average Year: A year in which the observed hydrological or meteorological data approximately matches the long-term average.
  • Bankfull Discharge: The maximum discharge that a watercourse can convey without overflowing its banks.
  • Bankfull Stage: The stage at which a stream overflows its banks.
  • Base Width (of a Flood Hydrograph): The time interval between the start and end of direct runoff following a storm.
  • Basin: Drainage area of a stream, river, or lake.
  • Basin Response: A measure of how a basin reacts to a meteorological event.
  • Basin Response: A measure of how a basin reacts to a meteorological event.
  • Base-width (of a flood hydrograph): Time interval between the beginning and end of direct runoff from a storm.
  • Base flow: Portion of stream discharge that is not directly attributable to recent rainfall or snowmelt.
  • Basin: Area drained by a stream, river or lake.
  • Bubble Gauge: A gauge for measuring water level using a gas-purged system.
  • Calibration: Experimental determination of the relationship between a measured quantity and the instrument's indication.
  • Catchment: Area having a common outlet for surface runoff.
  • Catchment Area: Area having a common outlet for surface runoff.
  • Catchment Response: How a basin reacts to a meteorological event.
  • Channel Frequency: Number of stream segments of all orders in a basin, divided by the area.
  • Channel Network: Natural or man-made drainage channels within an area.
  • Clear Overflow Weir: Weir with no tailwater submergence.
  • Climate: Synthesis of weather conditions in a region, based on long-term statistics of meteorological elements.
  • Climatic Change: Significant change in the climate of a region.
  • Climatic Year: Continuous 12-month period encompassing a complete annual climatic cycle.
  • Climatological Station for Hydrological Purposes: Station specifically established to collect climatological data to aid in hydrological analysis in a specific drainage basin.
  • Coefficient of Determination: Square of the correlation coefficient showing the proportion of variance explained.
  • Coefficient of Variation: Standard deviation divided by the mean, representing the relative variability.
  • Compound Weir: Weir comprising two or more sections of different types and dimensions.
  • Conceptual Hydrological Model: A simplified mathematical representation of hydrological processes.
  • Conditional Probability: Probability of an event given the occurrence of another event.
  • Confidence Interval: An interval likely to contain a true value.
  • Confidence Limits: Values defining the range of a confidence interval.
  • Constant Rate Dilution Gauging: Method of determining the flow rate based on adding a tracer of known concentration.
  • Continental Hydrology: Hydrological processes in continental regions, with emphasis on the continental phase of the water cycle.
  • Continuity Equation: Relationship describing the conservation of mass of flowing matter.
  • Convective Precipitation: Precipitation caused by convective motions in the atmosphere.
  • Correlation: Interdependence between two measurable quantities.
  • Correlation Coefficient: Measure of the interdependence between two quantities, often based on covariance and standard deviations.
  • Crest Gauge: Device for measuring the highest water level.
  • Cumulative Precipitation Gauge: A precipitation gauge for accumulating and recording rainfall, often used at stations visited infrequently.
  • Cup-Type Current Meter: A current meter that uses cups for measuring water velocity.

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Test your knowledge on essential hydrological terms and concepts with this quiz. Explore definitions related to bankfull discharge, climatic change, and hydrological networks. Perfect for students and professionals alike looking to enhance their understanding of hydrology.

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