Water resources hydrologic cycle

The ability to predict runoff and water availability is critical to water resources planners. However, the complex non-linearities of the hydrologic cycle make this an extremely difficult process. Even where precipitation is fairly well known, runoff prediction is a non-trivial problem, as land surface response depends as much (or more) on precipitation patterns and timing as on precipitation amount. The historical record of monthly rainfall and inflow at the Serpentine Dam, near Perth, Western Australia, provides an illustration of this sensitivity (Fig. 6-11a and b). 

The water balance describes the elements of the hydrological cycle in a specific area over a specific period. It therefore provides an overview of the water resources which are available over the long term. The classic water balance equation is ... 

Man-induced climate change is not just a scenario for the future it has been experienced since the beginning of industrialization, which coincided with the so-called Little Ice Age in the mid-nineteenth century. This contribution analyses the changes in climate and especially in the hydrological cycle and water resources mainly over the last 150 years and for the Swiss Alps. Fortunately, in Switzerland and therefore in the Swiss alpine region, climate and water resources have been under observation for this entire period. 

The main objection against nuclear power is the risk of spread of "radioactivity" (radioactive elements) to the environment where it may cause health effects in humans. We have already discussed such effects (Ch. 18). Here, we are concerned with the chemical aspects of the sources of releases and of the migration of the radionuclides in the environment. Their chemical properties, together with hydrology, determine how fast they will move from their point of entry into the groundwater to water resources used by man this is schematically illustrated in Figure 22.1. In particular we discuss actinide behavior as these elements have the most hazardous radionuclides which may be released in the different steps of the nuclear fuel cycle, and, especially, from nuclear waste repositories. 

Yang, Y, Lu, G., Wu, Z. et al. 2012. Variation characteristics analysis of hydrological cycle factors in upper reaches of Jinshajiang Basin. Water Resources and Power 30(3) 8-10. (in Chinese). 

Water is probably the limiting resource for development in most areas of the world. Of the hydrological cycle s vast quantity of water, only 2% is potahle and only a small percentage of potahle water is accessible. The earth s surface is 70% water hut only 2.5% of this is freshwater and only 0.007% of the earth s freshwater resources are accessible for human use. Consequently water is a very precious resource in relatively short supply in most locations worldwide. In the US water consumption in homes is at a rate of about 380 litres per person daily and half of that is attributed to landscape irrigation. Current technology provides fixtures with relatively low flow characteristics ... 

Oki, T, Kanae, S. (2006). Global hydrological cycles and world water resources. Science, 313(25 August 2006), 1068-1072. 

The Greek ySpoj means water. Hydrology deals about water resources and the hydrologic cycle on Earth. Also the movement, distribution and quality of water on Earth are part of that subject. 

---