Catchment hydrology
Catchment hydrology is the study of hydrology in drainage basins. Catchments are areas of land where runoff collects to a specific zone. This movement is caused by water moving from areas of high energy to low energy due to the influence of gravity. Catchments often do not last for long periods of time as the water evaporates, drains into the soil, or is consumed by animals.[1]
Water Sources
Catchment zones collect water from various sources such as surface runoff from snow cover and glaciers, and subsurface flow from groundwater, precipitation, and aquifers.[2] Deposition from fog and clouds is another source of water for catchment zones.[2] These sources of water collect together in a catchment area; which could provide drinking water for a nearby population.
Quantification
Precipitation in catchment areas is measured through
Topography
The surrounding topography of a catchment zone influences the flow vectors and direction that the water flows.[1] Water flows from areas of high potential energy to low potential energy under the influence of gravity. The geometry of the slope leading to the catchment area influences the amount of water the catchment will contain.[1]
Terminology
There are many terms involved with and related to catchment hydrology. These basic ones are taken from the glossary of terms in Kendall and McDonnell, 1998:
- aquifer
- baseflow
- catchment
- drainage divide
- evaporation
- evapotranspiration
- event water
- groundwater flow
- Horton flow
- hydrograph
- infiltration
- intensity
- interception
- overland flow
- pre-event water
- subsurface runoff
- subsurface stormflow
- surface runoff
- time of concentration
- transpiration
References
- ^ ISBN 978-94-017-9336-0
- ^ ISBN 978-0-444-81546-0
See also
- hydrology
- isotope hydrology
- hydrogeology
- groundwater
- agricultural hydrology
- Water quality
- Surface water
- Drinking water