Hydrology Flashcards, test questions and answers

Discover flashcards, test exam answers, and assignments to help you learn more about Hydrology and other subjects. Don’t miss the chance to use them for more effective college education. Use our database of questions and answers on Hydrology and get quick solutions for your test.

What is Hydrology?

Hydrology is the science of understanding the water cycle and how it interacts with the environment. It covers all aspects of water from its sources, through its transport and storage, to its use and return to the environment. Hydrologists study the physical, chemical and biological processes that affect water’s ability to sustain life on Earth. Hydrologists are involved in a wide range of activities such as investigating underground aquifers, groundwater availability, surface water resources management, floodplain mapping and modeling, lake dynamics and sedimentation, watershed ecology and much more. Hydrologists also monitor climate change effects on water supplies and develop methods for managing drought conditions. Water is essential for human survival and hydrology plays a vital role in providing clean drinking water supplies as well as irrigation for crops. Water is also important for industry because it provides cooling to power plants or chemical processing plants. Hydrologists also play an important role in predicting major floods or droughts which can have devastating effects on communities around them. Hydrological studies are conducted across multiple disciplines including geology, chemistry, engineering and mathematics among others. By studying the movement of both surface water (rivers) and groundwater (aquifers), hydrologists can better understand how these resources interact with each other as well as their surrounding environments enabling us to better manage our natural resources while maintaining healthy ecosystems throughout the world.