Lecture_30_01_2023

ENVS 353: Hydrology

Ing. Dr. Stephen Oppong Kwakye
 Course objective

The aim of this course is to introduce

students to basic concepts in
hydrology and
 Course objective

….. and understand the

impacts/interactions of hydrological
processes on the environment.
 Course Overview
• Introduction to hydrology
• Hydrological cycle
• Meteorological data
– Precipitation
– Rainfall Abstraction
– Infiltration and percolation
– Evaporation and transpiration
• Surface Run-off
• Hydrograph analysis
• Flood routing
• Groundwater
• Hydrological forecasting(Water Budget)
Introduction to Hydrology
 Hydrology:

Hydrology is the science of water and its

different manifestations on and below the
surface of the earth, its properties and its
natural connections and interrelations.
 Divisions of hydrology:
Hydrology of oceans (Oceanology)
Hydrometeorology
Hydrology of the mainland:
– Potamology (Science of streams and rivers)
– Limnology (Science of lakes)
– Geohydrology (Groundwater science)
Kryology (Science of ice and snow)
(Glaciology)
Branches of hydrology:
Subsurface hydrology: concerned with the occurrence and
movement of water below the surface of the earth
Surface hydrology: concerned with the occurrence and
movement of water above the surface of the earth
Hydrogeochemistry and water chemistry: is concerned with
the chemical changes in water that is in contact with earth
materials
Erosion, sedimentation and geomorphology: deals with the
effect of sediment transport on landforms
Water policy, economics and systems analysis: are
concerned with the political, economic and environmental
constraints in the design and operation of water-resource
systems
 Practical Applications of hydrology
• Design of hydraulic structures: such as spillway,
dam, culvert, drains, highway bridge, etc
• Municipal and Industrial Water supply
• Irrigation
• Hydropower
• Flood control
• Navigation
• Erosion and sediment control
• Pollution Abatement
• Recreation
• Surface-water hydrology: it deals with the
distribution, movement and properties of water
above the surface of the earth.

Applications of surface-water hydrology include:

modelling rainfall events and predicting the quantity
and quality of the resulting surface runoff
Too much (Oct 2002, Durango, Mexico)
 damage:
10 Million. €

Too much (2003, Dresden, Germany)

Too few, Rhine 2001
• Ground- water hydrology is the science
dealing with the quantity, quality,
movement and distribution of water below
the surface of the earth.

• The field of ground-water hydrology is

sometimes called geohydrology or
hydrogeology
• Some applications of the principles of
ground-water hydrology:
 Development of water supplies by means
of wells and infiltration galleries.
 Evaluation, mitigation, and remediation
of contaminated ground water.
 The storage of surface waters in
underground reservoirs.
 And the lowering of ground-water levels
to permit crop growth.
 Oil

Aquifer
Ground water

• Issues:

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 • Issues:
– Does the oil (= contamination) come in
contact with the ground water?

– If yes: does it move towards the well?

– If yes: what‘s the velocity and when will it

reach the well? If it reaches the well: How
serious will the contanimation still be? Is
there a risk for the public?
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 Questions
1. Hydrology is a highly inter-disciplinary science. Justify
2. List out various practical applications of hydrology
3. Discuss the practical applications of hydrology in fish and and
wild life preservation, recreational use of water and coastal
works
4. What are the State Government agencies that are
undertaking the hydrologic data collection in your country?
5. Visit a major water resources project in your region and find
out what specific hydrological investigations were involved in
it‘s design.
6. Is your Country affected by floods and droughts? Explain how
hydrology is useful in proposing the measures to mitigate
these natural disasters.
7. Collect the information regarding the geographical area and
the average annual rainfall of your District or Region.
Estimate the average rainwater volume received every year.