Hydrology & Water Resources Engineering - Vol 1 | 2. Global Water Budget by Abraham | Learn Smarter
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2. Global Water Budget

Water is a critical resource that shapes ecosystems, weather patterns, and human development. The global water budget quantifies the total water volume, its distribution, and its movement through the hydrological cycle. Understanding this budget allows engineers to manage water resources sustainably and address challenges such as climate change and water scarcity.

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Sections

  • 2

    Global Water Budget

    The Global Water Budget quantifies the distribution and movements of water across Earth's reservoirs, important for sustainable water resource management.

    Learning Practice

  • 2.1

    The Hydrologic Cycle: A Recap

    The hydrologic cycle describes the continuous movement of water on Earth, involving key processes such as evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.

    Learning Practice

  • 2.2

    Components Of The Global Water Budget

    The global water budget quantifies the Earth's total water volume, its distribution among reservoirs, and the annual fluxes between these reservoirs.

    Learning Practice

  • 2.2.1

    Water Reservoirs

    Water reservoirs are key components of the global water budget, representing the different forms and storage locations of water on Earth.

    Learning Practice

  • 2.2.2

    Water Movements (Annual Fluxes)

    This section examines the annual fluxes of water through various processes in the hydrological cycle, specifically focusing on precipitation, evaporation, and runoff.

    Learning Practice

  • 2.3

    The Global Water Balance Equation

    The Global Water Balance Equation provides a fundamental framework for understanding the inputs and outputs of the hydrological system.

    Learning Practice

  • 2.4

    Role Of Oceans In The Water Budget

    This section explores the critical contributions of oceans to the global water budget including their role in evaporation, precipitation, and storage.

    Learning Practice

  • 2.5

    Terrestrial Water Budget

    The terrestrial water budget is shaped by various factors such as climate, vegetation, soil, topography, and human activities, and is essential for effective water resource management.

    Learning Practice

  • 2.6

    Atmospheric Water Budget

    The atmospheric water budget, although comprising only about 0.001% of Earth's total water, is critical for understanding weather systems and global precipitation patterns.

    Learning Practice

  • 2.7

    Groundwater In The Global Budget

    Groundwater constitutes a significant portion of global freshwater but faces challenges due to slow recharge and over-extraction.

    Learning Practice

  • 2.8

    Cryosphere: Ice And Snow Storage

    The cryosphere is a critical component of Earth's water budget, containing 68.7% of global freshwater.

    Learning Practice

  • 2.9

    Human Influence On The Global Water Budget

    Human activities significantly alter the global water balance through land use changes, water withdrawals, reservoir construction, and climate change.

    Learning Practice

  • 2.9.1

    Land Use Changes

    Land use changes significantly impact the global water budget by affecting runoff and evapotranspiration rates.

    Learning Practice

  • 2.9.2

    Water Withdrawals

    Water withdrawals for irrigation, industry, and domestic usage have significant effects on river flows and aquifer levels.

    Learning Practice

  • 2.9.3

    Reservoir Construction

    Reservoir construction alters natural water flow and affects evaporation losses, significantly changing the global water budget.

    Learning Practice

  • 2.9.4

    Climate Change

    This section discusses how climate change affects global water patterns, intensifying natural disasters and disrupting water distribution.

    Learning Practice

  • 2.10

    Residence Time Of Water In Different Reservoirs

    This section discusses the average residence times of water in various reservoirs, highlighting the significant differences between them.

    Learning Practice

  • 2.11

    Global Water Budget Estimation Techniques

    This section outlines the estimation techniques used to assess the global water budget, including satellite remote sensing, ground-based observations, and hydrological modeling.

    Learning Practice

  • 2.11.1

    Satellite Remote Sensing

    This section discusses the application of satellite remote sensing technologies in monitoring global water budgets, specifically focusing on data collection concerning precipitation, snow cover, and soil moisture.

    Learning Practice

  • 2.11.2

    Ground-Based Observations

    Ground-based observations play a vital role in hydrology by providing critical data on precipitation, streamflows, and groundwater levels.

    Learning Practice

  • 2.11.3

    Hydrological Modelling

    Hydrological modelling utilizes large-scale models to estimate the water balance within various water systems.

    Learning Practice

  • 2.12

    Importance Of Global Water Budget In Engineering

    This section emphasizes the role of the global water budget in engineering, highlighting its significance in hydrologic modeling and management.

    Learning Practice

References

Chapter_2_Global.pdf

Class Notes

Memorization

What we have learnt

  • The hydrological cycle incl...
  • The global water budget con...
  • Human activities significan...

Final Test

Revision Tests