Groundwater Hydrology
Expert-defined terms from the Professional Certificate in Hydraulic and Water Resources Engineering course at Stanmore School of Business. Free to read, free to share, paired with a globally recognised certification pathway.
Aerial Photographs refer to photographic images taken from aircraft</b… #
These images are used to identify landforms, water bodies, and vegetation patterns that can help in understanding hydrologic processes. Related terms include remote sensing and geographic information systems.
Aquifer refers to a geologic formation that can store and transmit … #
Aquifers can be confined or unconfined, and their transmissivity and storativity are important parameters in groundwater hydrology. Related terms include porosity, permeability, and hydraulic conductivity.
Base Flow refers to the flow of water in a stream or riv… #
Base flow is an important component of streamflow and is often used to estimate groundwater recharge. Related terms include streamflow, runoff, and groundwater recharge.
Catchment refers to an area of land that drains water into… #
Catchments are often used to study hydrologic processes and water balances. Related terms include watershed, drainage basin, and hydrologic unit.
Channel Geometry refers to the shape and size of a stream o… #
Channel geometry is important in hydraulic and hydrologic studies as it affects flow and sediment transport. Related terms include cross-sectional area, wetted perimeter, and hydraulic radius.
Confined Aquifer refers to an aquifer that is confined by imper… #
Confined aquifers are recharged remotely and flow is influenced by hydrostatic pressure. Related terms include unconfined aquifer, leaky aquifer, and artesian aquifer.
Darcy's Law refers to a mathematical equation that describes the <… #
Darcy's Law is widely used in groundwater hydrology to estimate hydraulic conductivity and flow rates. Related terms include hydraulic gradient, porosity, and permeability.
Digital Elevation Model refers to a digital representation of the eart… #
Digital elevation models are used in hydrologic and hydraulic studies to analyze watersheds and stream networks. Related terms include geographic information systems, remote sensing, and terrain analysis.
Drainage Basin refers to an area of land that drains water… #
Drainage basins are often used to study hydrologic processes and water balances. Related terms include catchment, watershed, and hydrologic unit.
Evapotranspiration refers to the process by which water is tran… #
Evapotranspiration is an important component of the hydrologic cycle and is often used to estimate water balances. Related terms include precipitation, runoff, and infiltration.
Flow Net refers to a graphical representation of flow lines and <b… #
Flow nets are used in groundwater hydrology to analyze flow patterns and estimate hydraulic conductivity. Related terms include Darcy's Law, hydraulic gradient, and porosity.
Geographic Information Systems refer to a computer #
based tool for analyzing and displaying geographically referenced data. Geographic information systems are widely used in hydrologic and hydraulic studies to analyze watersheds and stream networks. Related terms include remote sensing, digital elevation models, and terrain analysis.
Groundwater refers to water that is stored beneath the earth's… #
Groundwater is an important component of the hydrologic cycle and is often used for drinking water, irrigation, and industrial purposes. Related terms include aquifer, porosity, and permeability.
Groundwater Flow refers to the movement of water through a poro… #
Groundwater flow is influenced by hydraulic gradient and porosity, and is often used to estimate hydraulic conductivity and flow rates. Related terms include Darcy's Law, flow net, and porous medium.
Groundwater Recharge refers to the process by which water is tr… #
Groundwater recharge is an important component of the hydrologic cycle and is often used to estimate water balances. Related terms include precipitation, infiltration, and evapotranspiration.
Hydraulic Conductivity refers to the ability of a porous medium to… #
Hydraulic conductivity is an important parameter in groundwater hydrology and is often used to estimate flow rates and hydraulic gradients. Related terms include porosity, permeability, and Darcy's Law.
Hydraulic Gradient refers to the change in hydraulic head per unit… #
Hydraulic gradient is an important parameter in groundwater hydrology and is often used to estimate flow rates and hydraulic conductivity.
Hydrograph refers to a graphical representation of streamflow or <… #
Hydrographs are used in hydrologic and hydraulic studies to analyze flow patterns and estimate water balances. Related terms include streamflow, runoff, and base flow.
Hydrologic Cycle refers to the continuous process by which water i… #
The hydrologic cycle includes evaporation, condensation, precipitation, runoff, and infiltration. Related terms include water balance, evapotranspiration, and groundwater recharge.
Hydrologic Unit refers to a geographic area that is defined by its… #
Hydrologic units are often used to study hydrologic processes and water balances. Related terms include catchment, drainage basin, and watershed.
Infiltration refers to the process by which water enters the so… #
Infiltration is an important component of the hydrologic cycle and is often used to estimate groundwater recharge. Related terms include precipitation, runoff, and evapotranspiration.
Irrigation refers to the practice of applying water to crops</b… #
Irrigation is an important use of water and is often used in agriculture and horticulture.
Leaky Aquifer refers to an aquifer that is separated from a con… #
Leaky aquifers are recharged locally and flow is
Permeability refers to the ability of a porous medium to transm… #
Permeability is an important parameter in groundwater hydrology and is often used to estimate hydraulic conductivity and flow rates. Related terms include porosity, hydraulic conductivity, and Darcy's Law.
Porosity refers to the volume of voids in a porous medium p… #
Porosity is an important parameter in groundwater hydrology and is often used to estimate hydraulic conductivity and flow rates. Related terms include permeability, hydraulic conductivity, and Darcy's Law.
Precipitation refers to water that falls to the earth's surface in… #
Precipitation is an important component of the hydrologic cycle and is often used to estimate water balances. Related terms include evapotranspiration, runoff, and infiltration.
Remote Sensing refers to the use of aircraft or satellites … #
Remote sensing is widely used in hydrologic and hydraulic studies to analyze watersheds and stream networks. Related terms include geographic information systems, digital elevation models, and terrain analysis.
Runoff refers to the flow of water over the land or stre… #
Runoff is an important component of the hydrologic cycle and is often used to estimate water balances.
Streamflow refers to the flow of water in a stream or ri… #
Streamflow is an important component of the hydrologic cycle and is often used to estimate water balances. Related terms include base flow, runoff, and hydrograph.
Transmissivity refers to the ability of an aquifer to transmit<… #
Transmissivity is an important parameter in groundwater hydrology and is often used to estimate hydraulic conductivity and flow rates. Related terms include storativity, hydraulic conductivity, and Darcy's Law.
Unconfined Aquifer refers to an aquifer that is not confined by <i… #
Unconfined aquifers are recharged locally and flow is
Watershed refers to an area of land that drains water into… #
Watersheds are often used to study hydrologic processes and water balances. Related terms include catchment, drainage basin, and hydrologic unit.
Water Balance refers to the accounting of all inputs and output… #
Water balances are often used to estimate evapotranspiration, groundwater recharge, and streamflow. Related terms include hydrologic cycle, precipitation, and evapotranspiration.
Water Table refers to the upper surface of the saturated zone in a… #
The water table is an important parameter in groundwater hydrology and is often used to estimate hydraulic conductivity and flow rates.