Week 1 Flashcards
Components of hydrological cycle
Rain/snow
Glaciers
Volcanos and juvenile H2O
Infiltration
Saturated zone
Groundwater flow
Water table
Runoff
Overland flow
Evapotranspiration
P > VP =
PPT
P < VP =
EVAP
VP at high altitude
Low T
Low VP
= PPT
VP at low altitude
Higher VP (column of air above) e.g. SL ~100kPa
Higher T
= EVAP
Direct rainfall measurement
NON RECORDING RAIN GAUGE
- manually records mm/day
TIPPING BUCKET RAIN GAUGE
- continuous time b/w 0.2mm of rainfall
TILTING SYPHON RAIN GAUGE
- continuous water level w/ float gauge
- once can full = trigger = empties
Radar measurement
Good for spatial coverage
Electromagnetic energy pulse reflected by pption particles
Echo intensity = raindrop size
e.g. 15 radars in UK
5 in Ireland
Surface dominated catchment
Discharge reacts quickly to rainfall events - surface flow
Summer = low flow
Groundwater dominated catchment
Discharge less responsive
Substantial summer flows
Most flow from groundwater = springs/upwelling in river channels
Catchment water balance eqn
Discharge = rainfall - evapotranspiration - /\storage
N.B. /\ storage changes due to permeability
Velocity meters
Series of discrete points
Measures flow velocity and depth of water
Ideally 60% depth
–> Q
Stage =
River level above defined datum
Stage gauging
Auto-measurement = efficient and continuous flow measurement
Uses weir
STAGE(y)-DISCHARGE(x) RELATIONSHIP REQUIRED
What does Manning’s equation do?
Relates water level and flow rate
Empirical equation
Evaporation =
Loss of water from open surface