"A clear text, simple figures and tables, and a selection of color plates make for an attractive offering. Recommended."
-- Choice, May 2009
Water is essential to sustain life on Earth and an understanding of water quantity and quality issues is vital for anyone involved in environmental management. Fundamentals of Hydrology provides an absorbing and comprehensive introduction to how freshwater moves on and around the planet and how humans affect the quantity and quality of water available to them. The book consists of three parts, each of fundamental importance to an understanding of hydrology: *the first section deals with processes within the hydrological cycle, our understanding of them, and how to measure and estimate the amount of water within each process. *the second section is concerned with the assessment of important hydrological parameters such as streamflow and water quality. It describes techniques used by practising hydrologists in the assessment of water resources. *the final section of the book draws together the first two parts to discuss how we can manage our water resources for the maximum benefit of humanity and the environment overall.
Fundamentals of Hydrology is a lively and accessible introduction to the study of hydrology at university level and will give undergraduates an understan of hydrological processes, a knowledge of the techniques used to assess water resources and an up-to-date overview of hydrology in a changing world. Throughout the text examples and case-studies from around the world are used to clearly explain ideas and techniques. Chapter summaries, essay questions, guides to further reading and a glossary are also included.