Environmental problems in the humid tropical regions, where the focus is on the fate and management of the surviving rainforest and climate change, are attracting increasing attention internationally. The distribution of tropical rainfall is highly variable, and in many regions the supply of potable water is inadequate. By the end of the century one-third of the world's population will be living in the humid tropics. This book considers all aspects of hydrology in the humid tropics. The first four parts of the book cover the physical basis of hydrology in the humid tropics: climatology, meteorology, process hydrology, sedimentation, water quality and freshwater ecology. This is followed by extensive treatment of the human and societal issues: land-use changes, water resource management, and rural and urban water supply in the tropical regions. The book is a uniquely integrated summary of hydrology in the tropics.

‘Overall the book is extremely comprehensive in the topics it covers … From the climatologist’s perspective about one half of the book is of direct relevance, but the rest is meaty and will be of great use to those working with or for environmental or governmental organizations in the tropics, or in education.’

G. Sumner Source: International Journal of Climatology

‘ … wealth of information, a useful general introduction, promises exciting times ahead for tropical hydrologists.’

Source: Ecology and Evolution

‘This book provides an excellent up-to-date summary of what is known of hydrology and water management in the tropics … Overall this is an excellent book which should be accessible to all who are responsible for investigating, designing and managing humid tropical hydrology and water resources activities.’

Source: Hydrological Sciences Journal

‘ … useful state-of-the-art summaries.’

Source: Progress in Physical Geography

‘ … one of the most complete books available on tropical hydrology and as such it deserves a wide circulation.’

Source: Earth Surface Processes and Landforms