ECE 4102 : HYDROLOGY

1
LECTURE 1
ECE 4102 HYDROLOGY I
Purpose of the course
Enable students describe the hydrologic cycle, perform measurements on
precipitation, compute evaporation, transpiration and run-off.
Expected Learning Outcomes of the Course:
By the end of the course, a learner should be able to:
1. Describe water occurrence in nature;
2. Describe the various components of meteorology
3. Define and calculate evapotranspiration
4. Define and calculate interception, infiltration and percolation
5. Apply in principle the presented elements of groundwater flow theory, surface
water flow analysis and the relation between rainfall and stream flow
Course Content
• Hydrologic cycle.
• Precipitation: types, measurement and averaging real precipitation.
• Rainfall data analysis.
• Evaporation and transpiration: factors and methods of computation.
• Runoff: factors affecting runoff, flow measurements and rating curves.
• Zones, infiltration, percolation, permeability, types of walls.
Mode of Delivery
Lectures, Case Studies, Seminars, Presentations and Discussions.
Instruction materials and equipment
Whiteboard, Projector, Handouts, Computer, Internet and Programming Software.
Course assessment
Continuous Assessment Tests – 30%
End of semester Examinations –70%
Total 100%
Course Reference Textbooks
Course Textbook
1. Musy, A., Hingray, B., & Picouet, C. (2014). Hydrology: a science for engineers.
CRC
Press.
Other Reference Texts
1. Davie, T. (2008). Fundamentals of hydrology. Routledge.
2. Ojha, C.S.P.; Berndtsson, R.; Bhunya, P. (2008). Oxford University Press
THE HYDROLOGIC CYCLE
The hydrological cycle is the circulation of water evaporated from the sea and land
surfaces, its transport through the atmosphere to the land and its return to the sea
via surface, subsurface and atmospheric routes.
Although called a cycle, the process is much more complex than a just a simple
cycle. All kinds of short cut and parallel processes take place. For example, a drop
of water evaporated from the sea may precipitate back into the sea without
completing the entire cycle.
The hydrological cycle refers to the general circulation, which results from the fact
that there is on average above the earth's land surface more precipitation than
evaporation. Water precipitated over land passes through a number of storage
media, which can be regarded as subsystems of the hydrological cycle.
The hydrodynamics is the flow of water between and through the different storage
media.
Surface detention and interception storage are considered as separate systems.
Interception storage refers to the precipitation intercepted by vegetation.
This water evaporates before it reaches the earth surface. Detention storage is
water temporarily stored in pools or depressions on the earth surface.
This water may evaporate or infiltrate into the soil, replenishing the soil moisture
reservoir or percolating downwards to the groundwater.