Study Guide for Final Exam

There will be no extra credit on this exam.

Most, if not all, of these short answer and essay points can be found in the previous two study guides: 2/12 Exam I Study Guide and Study Guide for Exam 2.

  1. Define hydrology. \\”Scientific study of the properties, distribution and effects of water on the Earth's surface, in the soil and underlying rocks, and in the atmosphere.”1)
  2. Provide a schematic and briefly discuss the components of the hydrologic cycle.
  3. Define “system” and components of a system. Apply the definition of mass balance to an arbitrary system. Show in a block diagram the system and components of the system.
  4. How does precipitation form?
  5. Why is the Earth warmer than it “should” be?
  6. What is the Probable Maximum Precipitation (PMP)? What is it used for?“The precipitation that may be expected from the most severe combination of critical meteorologic conditions and that is reasonably possible in an area as found in the National Weather Service Hydrometeorological Reports.”2)
  7. Describe two different ways to compute PMP. What is the main difference between them?
  8. What is the Probable Maximum Storm (PMS)?
  9. What is the Probable Maximum Flood (PMF)? “Flood that can be expected from the most severe combination of critical meteorologic and hydrologic conditions that are reasonably possible in a region.”3)
  10. What is a watershed? “The region draining into a river, river system or other body of water.”4)
  11. What is a hurricane? “A severe tropical cyclone having winds in excess of 64 knots (74 mi/hr).”5)
  12. Why [are] some gases in the atmosphere called greenhouse gases? Elaborate.
  13. Apply the mass balance equation to a watershed.
  14. What are the sources of error in regional water balance equations?
  15. Describe [the] types and methods of precipitation measurement.
  16. What are the main problems with rain gauge measurements?
  17. Wat are the main differences between gauge and radar estimation of precipitation?
  18. How and why is climate important for water resources engineering?
  19. What is an IDF curve? What is it used for?
  20. What is the procedure to develop an IDF curve?
  21. Define albedo, sensible heat, latent heat, and time of concentration.
  22. Define all the parameters of Horton's infiltration model.
  23. Define unit hydrograph, S-curve, hydrograph's base length, excess rainfall, and direct runoff.
  24. What is hyrdologic routing? How is it applied? How can one determine K and X coefficients?
  25. Discuss, in detail, the following types of evapotranspiration:
    1. Evaporation from open water bodies.
    2. Evaporation from bare soil.
    3. Transpiration from vegetation.
  26. What are the basic assumptions behind the rational method?
  27. What are the basin features of the TR-55 method?
  28. Describe, in detail, the two major surface runoff mechanisms. In shich situation is eac mechanism dominant?
  29. What is subsurface storm flow?
  30. What are the main differences between runoff mechanisms?
  31. Describe the USDA Soil Texture Triangle. What is it used for?
  32. Describe types of rainfall abstraction and how they are estimated.
  33. Describe the NRCS (SCS) curve number method.
  34. Study presentations on Chapters 3 and 6 very carefully.
  35. Study examples from Chapters 3 and 6 discussed in class.
  36. Problems in homeworks 8, 9, 10.
  37. Review all problems discussed in class and problems in homework assignments (several times).
  • Also study groundwater problems.
1) www.psat.wa.gov/Publications/LID_studies/glossary.htm
2) www.blm.gov/nhp/Commercial/SolidMineral/3809/deis/glossary.html
3) amsglossary.allenpress.com/glossary/browse
4) www.uawcd.com/glossary.htm
5) www.wrcc.dri.edu/ams/glossary.html

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