Why do we need to study hydrology?
(in simple words and not copied please)
- 30 points
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Why do we need to study hydrology?
(in simple words and not copied please)
- 30 points
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Answer:
Hydrology has evolved as a science in response to the need to understand the complex water systems of the Earth and help solve water problems. Hydrologists play a vital role in finding solutions to water problems, and interesting and challenging careers are available to those who choose to study hydrology.
Hydrology is the study of water. Hydrologists examine the physical processes involved in the global water cycle, which spans most disciplines in Earth and environmental sciences. The hydrological community includes physical scientists, engineers, and water resource managers, and in common practice it is distinct from the oceanography and atmospheric science communities, because hydrology concentrates on surface water and groundwater in terrestrial environments. The Earth Systems and Environmental Science module adopts this convention, and this article provides an overview of the core areas of hydrology: the global water cycle, lakes, rivers, wetlands, groundwater, the cryosphere, water resources, aquatic biology, and water chemistry.
Hydrology is the most important abiotic factor that shapes wetland character because it influences abiotic ecological processes that determine vegetation type (marsh, swamp, fen, bog) and wildlife use. Anything that influences inflows and outflows (e.g., precipitation, groundwater, soil characteristics, surface water, tidal flow, floods and droughts, and evaporation) affects hydrology and wetland type. Whatever the blend of drivers, the balance between inflow and outflow determines the depth, hydroperiod, and frequency of flooding, three of the most important drivers of bird and mammal use of wetlands. The physical energy associated with inflows and outflows of water may also exert an important influence on wetland vegetation, as in wetlands bordering lakes and riverine wetlands.
Hydrology and hydroperiod influence many abiotic factors that affect plants and plant communities (e.g., nutrient levels in water and soils; periodic exposure of mud flats for seed germination, drought conditions, decomposition rates; salinity; and properties of the soils), which in turn affect animal distribution and population dynamics. Plants often have specific germination requirements involving light, soil pH, redox potential, moisture, oxygen, and temperature (see article 60 on plants of wetlands by Cronk and Fennessy).
Water depth influences wildlife use of wetlands, particularly in determining feeding zones. For example, some waterbirds (e.g., shorebirds and dabbling ducks) need shallow water to feed effectively. Other waterbirds, like grebes and inland diving ducks, need water at least 1 m deep to feed. Water depth directly affects wildlife use by its influence on food and cover availability.
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