Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- 1 Introduction
- Part I The Earth System
- Part II Global Physical Climatology
- Part III Soil Processes
- Part IV Hydrometeorology
- 11 Water balance
- 12 Watershed hydrology
- 13 Surface energy fluxes
- 14 Turbulent fluxes
- 15 Soil moisture and the atmospheric boundary layer
- Part V Biometeorology
- Part VI Terrestrial Plant Ecology
- Part VII Terrestrial Forcings and Feedbacks
- Index
- Plate section
- References
This chapter is part of a book that is no longer available to purchase from Cambridge Core
12 - Watershed hydrology
from Part IV - Hydrometeorology
Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- 1 Introduction
- Part I The Earth System
- Part II Global Physical Climatology
- Part III Soil Processes
- Part IV Hydrometeorology
- 11 Water balance
- 12 Watershed hydrology
- 13 Surface energy fluxes
- 14 Turbulent fluxes
- 15 Soil moisture and the atmospheric boundary layer
- Part V Biometeorology
- Part VI Terrestrial Plant Ecology
- Part VII Terrestrial Forcings and Feedbacks
- Index
- Plate section
- References
Summary
Chapter summary
The flow of water in streams and rivers is an important measure of the hydrologic cycle integrated over large areas. A watershed is the geographic area that contributes to water flow in a stream or river. Building upon concepts introduced in the previous chapter, this chapter introduces the study of watersheds. The overall hydrologic balance of a watershed is discussed, and three cases studies (Hubbard Brook, Coweeta, and Walker Branch) illustrate the hydrologic balance of watersheds. Surface runoff, or overland flow, is generated within a watershed when water reaching the ground exceeds the soil's capacity to gain water during infiltration (infiltration-excess) or when rain falls on saturated areas of the watershed (saturation-excess). The processes that generate runoff are reviewed and illustrated by numerical models of watershed hydrology. The spatial distribution of precipitation, spatial variability in infiltration capacity, antecedent soil moisture, and topography are important determinants of runoff at the watershed scale. Riverflow is an integrator of runoff, and the processes regulating riverflow, especially flooding, are discussed and illustrated. The chapter concludes with a discussion of global drainage basins and observed riverflow for major river systems. Comparison of simulated versus observed riverflow is an important means to test the hydrologic cycle of climate models.
Watersheds
The cycling of water depicted in Fig. 11.1 can be applied to particular geographic regions to calculate the water balance. One such area is a watershed or drainage basin.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Ecological ClimatologyConcepts and Applications, pp. 170 - 191Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2008
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