Hydrologic Cycle

Why is watershed a convenient unit of analysis?

it has one lateral outlet where runoff/streamflow can be measured

Watershed water mass balance equation

Delta S = P - E - R

Residence Time

average time for a water molecule to pass through a subsystem of the hydrologic cycle

= volume of water/flow rate

= S/Q

Properties of Water

strong covalent bonds

polar molecules

high specific heat

high viscosity/surface tensions

high latent heat

sensible heat

heat released/absorbed by body during process with changes in temperature

latent heat

heat released/absorbed by body during process that occurs with a change in phase