Hydrology : principles and processes

402 Pages·2017·16.911 MB·English

by  Robinson, M., Ward, Roy C

The book describes the basic principles and processes of the main hydrological H Mark Robinson
components of the water cycle: precipitation, interception, evaporation, soil water,
groundwater, streamfl ow and water quality. It takes a broadly non-mathematical Y Roy Ward
approach, although some numeracy is assumed particularly in the treatment of D
evaporation and soil water. The introductory and concluding chapters show the
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relations and interactions between these components, and puts the importance of
H Y D R O L O G Y
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water into a wider human context – its signifi cant role in human history, its key
role today, and potential role in future in the light of climate change and increasing
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global population. The book is thoroughly up-to-date, with over 100 diagrams
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and photographs to explain and amplify the concepts described, and provides over
Principles and processes
750 references for further study.
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Reviews of the authors’ previous book, Principles of Hydrology:

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‘The treatment throughout is straightforward and thorough and moreover is entirely
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physically based; it can be recommended without reservation as it cannot fail to be a
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considerable asset to any student of, or indeed any lecturer in, hydrology and water
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resources’ i
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JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY l
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s

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‘Elegant and lucid writing … It is an excellent exposition of hydrological processes
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intended for senior undergraduates and postgraduates of hydrology’ d

HYDROLOGICAL SCIENCES JOURNAL p
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Mark Robinson graduated in Physical Geography at Leeds University, and has an s
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MSc in Engineering Hydrology and a PhD in Environmental Hydrology. He has held e
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posts at Leeds University and Reading University and worked at the UK Institute
of Hydrology, and later the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH), where he is
currently an Honorary Fellow.
Roy Ward, is former Deputy Vice Chancellor and Emeritus Professor of Geography,
University of Hull. He has written extensively for scientifi c journals, and has taught
hydrology at major universities in the US, Canada, Australia and Nigeria. R M
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W rk

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iwapublishing.com
@IWAPublishing
ISBN: 9781780407289 (Paperback)
ISBN: 9781780407296 (eBook)
9 781780 407579
H y d r o l o g y
Principles and processes
To Mary and Kay
For their support and indulgence
as we pursued our passion for hydrology,
and the many hours we spent writing
“If there is magic in this world it is in water”
Loren C. eiseLey (1957)
The Immense Journey,
Vintage Books, random House
H y d r o l o g y
Principles and processes
m. robinson, Honorary Fellow, Centre for ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford, uk
r.C. Ward, emeritus Professor of geography, university of Hull, uk
Published by IWA Publishing
Alliance House
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London SW1H 0QS, UK
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First Published 2017
© 2017 IWA Publishing
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The information provided and the opinions given in this publication are not
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from acting upon any material contained in this publication.
ISBN: 9781780407289 (Paperback)
ISBN: 9781780407296 (eBook)
Cover Image: Mountain landscape
Copyright: Biletskiy_Evgeniy
Stock photo ID:505823322
From istockphoto.com
Contents
Preface 6
chaPter 1 IntroductIon 8
chaPter 2 PrecIPItatIon 36
chaPter 3 IntercePtIon 80
chaPter 4 evaPoratIon 110
chaPter 5 Groundwater 156
chaPter 6 SoIl water 196
chaPter 7 Streamflow 232
chaPter 8 water QualIty 278
chaPter 9 hydroloGy In a chanGInG world 324
referenceS 363
Index 392
acKnowledGementS 400
6 HydroLogy: PrinCiPLes and ProCesses
PrefaCe
“Writing a book is an adventure. To begin with it is a
toy and an amusement. Then it becomes a mistress, then it
becomes a master, then it becomes a tyrant. The last phase is
that just as you are about to be reconciled to your servitude,
you kill the monster and fling him to the public.”
Winston s CHurCHiLL.
From a speech about authorship, national Book exhibition at grosvenor House,
London, 2nd november 1949.
PreFaCe 7
Thank you for picking up this book. Water published more than 60 years ago.
is essential to all life and hydrology its Hydrological processes, and our
study deals with all aspects of its occurrence improved understanding of their operation,
on Earth. Earth, the ‘Blue Planet’, has dominate this discussion of the principles
three quarters of its surface covered by of hydrology. The structure of this book
water and is the only body in the solar contains chapters in logical sequence of the
system on which water is known to exist in hydrological cycle devoted to the major
large quantities. Since ours is literally a components of the hydrological cycle, each
water world, the growth of hydrology as with up-to-date references and discussions.
both a practical study and a science is In addition, a concluding chapter has been
not surprising. Early knowledge of water added to draw together some of the ideas
developed almost exclusively through which are developed through the book and
local attempts to manage and control it. look to new developments and challenges
However, the water which exists in such ahead. There are web links for further
abundance on the Earth is unevenly information as well as Review Problems
distributed in both time and space, and its and Exercises at the end of each chapter.
circulation, closely enmeshed with the We have included a wide range of
circulations of the global atmosphere and recent references, as well as some seminal
oceans, is a vital component of the Earth’s historical ones, as guidance for readers
energy machine. Indeed much of the who wish to follow up specific topics in
current impetus for the advancement of more detail. Inevitably, however, our
hydrology as a science comes from our selection is a personal one and in any case
increasing interest in and concern about represents only a minute fraction of the
climate variability and climate change and growing stream of publications in the
the key role of the global water circulation. relevant journals. Fortunately, access to
Water is essential to life but excessive this great body of literature, is easier now
variations bring disasters in the form of than at any time, via libraries and in
floods and droughts and its management particular the Internet, and it is assumed
and appropriation have already become the that many readers will access additional
source of international tension and even information from these sources. Similarly,
potentially of regional conflict. Further- with the growth of the Open Data
more, as the world population continues to movement, access is more easily available
grow, the pressures exerted on and by water to an increasing amount of environmental
will also increase and over the next half-cen- data including hydrology, and analytical
tury large areas of the world will have insuf- tools for their study are readily available,
ficient water to meet their needs. Hydrology such as spreadsheets (e.g. MS Excel and its
is therefore more important than ever before free equivalent from Libreoffice.org) as
and certainly the need for a clear under- well as more specialist numerical software.
standing of the operation of hydrological
processes at all scales has grown significantly Mark Robinson and Roy Ward
since the first hydrological textbooks were Summer 2016.
1
I n t r o d u c tIo n
“There is no life without water. It is a treasure
indispensable to all human activity.”
EuropEan WatEr ChartEr, CounCil of EuropE,
6th May 1968