It is impossible to understand water circulation without considering the impact of humans. The thirst of humanity is one of many driving forces behind the study of hydrology, but it is by far the most compelling. This book makes an effort to bring together the many physical hydrological processes.
Hydrology may be approached from either the engineering or geography disciplines, with the latter’s emphasis on earth science being the more common entry point. The earth science method originates in study of landforms (geomorphology) as well as has a long history of investigating the causes and effects of water’s global circulation. When it comes to the challenges provided by water’s movement (or lack thereof) throughout the planet, engineers take a little more pragmatic approach. Especially when delving into hydrological studies, it may be difficult to disentangle the two because of the extensive overlap between them.
The distinction between earth science hydrology and engineering hydrology is most noticeable at the undergraduate level, when earth science hydrology is more descriptive as well as engineering hydrology is more numerate. This book has a more earth-science-oriented perspective due to the author’s background and research interests, although it’s inevitable that there would be some overlap. It is believed that all undergraduate students of the hydrology would find utility in the book, since it contains sections that discuss numerical methods of essential significance to any practising hydrologist, regardless of background.