2 HYDROLOGY 2.1. HYDROLOGY The word hydrology means science of water which deals with the spatial and temporal characteristics of the earth’s water in all its aspects such as occurrence, circulation, distribution, physical and chemical properties, and impact on environment and living things. Engineering hydrology deals with all these aspects which are pertinent to planning, design, and operation of hydraulic engineering projects for the control and use of the available water. Hydrology finds its application in the design and operation of water resources projects to estimate the magnitudes of flood flows at different times of a year to decide reservoir capacity, spillway discharge, dimensions of hydraulic structures etc. Basic concepts of hydrology have been dealt with in this chapter.
