Technical Hydrology

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course the students are expected to comprehend basic concepts of the water cycle and hydrology

1. Students understand the essential components and function of the hydrologic cycle including precipitation, evaporation/evapotranspiration, overland flow and surface storage, groundwater flow and storage, and channel flow, and storm water runoff. Assignments that demonstrate accomplishment of this outcome: a. first project -> water balance in a Greek basin with the use of the Thornwaite method. b. final exams
2. Students are able to delineate the divide of a water basin on a topographical map.
3. Students know the basic statistics and their terminology involved in Hydrology. Comprehend what the Intensity-Duration-Frequency curves are, and what is their use.
4. Know how to solve the Manning’s formula.
5. Students are able to perform engineering hydrology computations and subsequent dimensioning of hydraulic elements: Design discharge with the use of the Rational method. Assignments that demonstrate accomplishment of this outcome: second project -> dimensioning of a culvert for a small basin.
6. Know where to look for reliable hydrological and meteorological data.

 

General Abilities

• By the end of the course the student would be able to analyze and compose given information.
• To enrich his or her inductive reasoning
• To work autonomously and in groups

 

COURSE CONTENT

The theoretical part of the course includes surface waters and groundwater adopting thus a holistic view. The unifying idea is the hydrologic circle and the site is the water catchment. Special emphasis is given in the scientific method as demonstrated by the principle of conservation of mass and energy applied in the water balance calculations. Theory is complimented by the presentation of the challenges due to climate change, and the presentation of the new technological tools that are now made available to the science of Hydrology, Geographical Information Systems and Remote Sensing. Also, the main flood control works are presented and their functions explained. In short the course contains the following:

1. Hydrology science, Hydrologic circle, Hydrologic variables and units of measurement, Spatial and Temporal scales in Hydrology. Residence times. Water catchments, Water balance of a catchment.
2. Precipitation: Spatial characteristics of precipitations, their types (snow, hail, rain) and their integration over the basin (Thiessen polygons, equal precipitation curves). Rainfall graphs. Rainfall gradient. Frequency analysis. Gumbell distribution.
3. Evapotranspiration: Actual and potential evapotranspiration. Methods and formulas used for potential evaporation (mass transport methods, energy balance methods, hybrid methods). Thornwaite’s method for actual evapotranspiration.
4. Hydrometry: Measurements of velocity and discharge in rivers and streams. The rating curve. Stage and discharge hydrographs. The Manning formula.
5. Floods. Frequency analysis and relevant distributions (Lognormal, LogPearson3).
6. Methods for computing design discharge: Rational Method, IDF curves, unit hydrograph.

 

STUDENT PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

1. Through quick and simple applications with bonuses given during the lecture.
2. Weekly assignments (exercises)
3. Two projects
4. Final exams.

 

ATTACHED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Greek
1. Στοιχεία Φυσικής Υδρολογίας, G. Hornberger et al. Εκδόσεις ΔΙΣΙΓΜΑ, 2018. Μετάφραση-Επιμέλεια Σ.Η.Καραλής
2. Κουτσογιάννης Δ. Και Ξανθόπουλος Θ., «Τεχνική Υδρολογία», 3η έκδοση, Τυπογραφείο ΕΜΠ, 1999.
3. Τσακίρης Γ., «ΥΔΑΤΙΚΟΙ ΠΟΡΟΙ: Ι. Τεχνική Υδρολογία και Εισαγωγή στη Διαχείριση Υδατικών Πόρων», Εκδόσεις Συμμετρία, Αθήνα, 2013.

 

English
1. Chow Te Ven, Maidment David and Mays Larry, ”Applied Hydrology,” 2nd edition, McGraw-Hill, 2013.
2. Elements of Physical Hydrology, G. Hornberger et al., Johns Hopkins University press, 2016.
3. Maidment David, “Handbook of Hydrology,” McGraw-Hill, 1993.
4. Hydrology: A science of Nature, Andre Musy & Cristophe Higy, CRS Press, 2011.
5. Hydrology in Practice, Elisabeth Shaw, 1994
6. Hydrology for engineers, linsley R., Kohler M., Paulhus J., McGraw-Hill, 1982.

 

Periodicals
1. International Journal of Hydrology Science and Technology. Intescience Publishers
2. Sustainability Science, Springer

 

Links
1. UNESCO’s International Hydrological Programme (IHP) http://en.unesco.org/themes/water-security/hydrology
2. Hydrology links from USGS: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/hod/hydrolnk.html