PART A - BASIC PRINCIPLES OF HYDROLOGY AND HOW
TO USE THEM TO ESTIMATE RUNOFF
IDENTIFICATION OF THE STATES IN THE HYDROLOGIC CYCLE
Hydrology is the natural science that deals with the process governing the depletion and the replenishment of
water resources on and beneath the surface of the earth. The knowledge of the principles of hydrology is
necessary to be able to estimate the rate of runoff in a given area.
Seven Phases of the Hydrologic Cycle
The hydrologic cycle has seven main phases. The phases include precipitation (gain), interception, infiltration,
evapotranspiration, detention, transpiration, and runoff (losses). Figure 1-1 shows the phases of the hydrologic
cycle.
Figure 1-1. Phases of the hydrologic cycle
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