Surface Water Hydrology

Surface water hydrology is a core course in civil engineering that covers a wide range of topics related to different components, at or near earth’s surface of the global hydrological cycle. It is also important for the earth sciences, engineering hydrology etc. in the perspectives of climate change. The spread of knowledge base is wide and relevant topics are multiple in this major field of study. To provide a comprehensive learning strategy, this course is sub-divided into three major modules, namely Hydrological Processes, Hydrological Analysis and Hydrological Design. The first module starts with the fundamental concept of hydrology and hydrologic cycle and its importance on earth. This module ends with an overall discussion on the importance of this subject in the context of climate change as a part of motivation. Next module focuses on different important components of the hydrologic cycle, starting with the most vital one i.e., precipitation and gradually discussing evaporation, evapotranspiration, infiltration, run-off, streamflow, flood etc. All necessary theoretical concepts of each process, their physical modelling and their real-life measuring arrangements are discussed elaborately. Necessary schematics diagrams and practical photographs are used along with illustrative examples to make the theoretical concepts clear. More real-life applications are considered in the last module in which Hydrological design concepts are developed.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Students in the fields of Civil Engineering, Earth Sciences and Water Resources Engineering related courses will find significant value in this course. Additionally, hydrology/water practitioners will also be benefitted from this course as a valuable resource.