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Hydrology

Earth Sciences

Hydrology is the scientific study of the occurrence, distribution, movement and properties of water on, above and below the surface of the Earth, including its interaction with the atmosphere, oceans and living things. It covers the water cycle in detail, from precipitation and runoff through infiltration into groundwater aquifers and eventual return to the atmosphere by evaporation, and modern hydrology underpins the management of drinking water supplies, flood forecasting, irrigation and river engineering. The discipline draws on physics, geology and chemistry, and increasingly computer modeling, to predict how water moves through natural and engineered landscapes.

Facts
Central Question
How water moves and is distributed across a drainage basin, and how that basin can be managed sustainably. 1
Scope
Hydrology is the scientific study of the movement, distribution and management of water on Earth, including the water cycle, water resources and drainage basin sustainability. 1
Significance
Hydrological research informs environmental engineering, policy and planning, and underpins the management of natural disasters and water resources. 1
Sources
1. Hydrology (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia
  • Lead section, definition sentence
    the scientific study of the movement, distribution, and management of water on Earth and other planets, including the water cycle, water resources, and drainage basin sustainability.
  • Lead section, scope sentence
    collect and analyze data to help solve water related problems such as environmental preservation, natural disasters, and water management.
  • Lead section, closing sentence
    Hydrological research can inform environmental engineering, policy, and planning.
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