RIVER BASIN AS A HYDROLOGICAL UNIT

Hydrology is the scientific study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water on the Earth’s surface; the water cycle, the water resources and environmental watershed sustainability are the integral part of the study of hydrology

WHAT IS RIVER BASIN ?

1.An area of land drained by a river and its tributaries where  any precipitation is collected or                        drained into it.

2. Its boundary is marked by a ridge of high land called  watershed

3. Drainage basins have one main stream and many  tributaries.

• Watershed: A stretch of land that surrounds drainage basin (a.k.a. boundary)
• Drainage Basin: A river system that collects rainwater and comprises of streams and river  
• Tributaries: Streams that flow in the river which is mainly found in the upper course.
• Distributaries: Branch out from the river which is mainly found in the river delta.  
• River Source: Point where the river starts
• River Mouth: Place where the river meets the sea / ocean (River ends)
• Interception : precipitation lands on vegetation.
• Infiltration : Water that reaches ground surface will soak into soil.
• Overland flow : water moving over the ground.
• Throughfall : precipitation passing through the plant canopy
• Percolation : Some water sinks deep into the earth (percolates)  through openings in the soil.
• Stemflow : water that flow down tree trunks or plant stems.
• Groundwater : water transfer through permeable rocks from the soil  above.
• Baseflow : water flows from groundwater stores to the stream
• Throughflow : water moving through the soil. 
•      Surface run-off : water  that flows over the land surface.

FORMULA FOR RIVER BASIN HYDROLOGICAL SYSTEM

P= q+e+ (IRML GS)     

          WHERE,        P= Precipitation

                                q= Flow water

                                e= Evaporation

                                I= Interception Stage

                                R= Reserve Of Ground Water

                               M= Moisture Of Soil

                                L= Water In Layer Of Aeration

                                G=Ground Water Storage

                                S= Soil Water

Hydrological cycle is also known as the “water cycle”; it is the normal water recycling system on Earth Due to solar radiation, water evaporates, generally from the sea, lakes, etc. Water also evaporates from plant leaves through the mechanism of transpiration. As the steam rises in the atmosphere, it is being cooled, condensed, and returned to the land and the sea as precipitation. Precipitation falls on the earth as surface water and shapes the surface, creating thus streams of water that result in lakes and rivers. A part of the water precipitating penetrates the ground and moves downward through the incisions, forming aquifers. Finally, a part of the surface and underground water leads to sea. During this trip, water is converted in all phases: gas, liquid, and solid. As mentioned above, water always changes states between liquid, vapor, and ice, with these processes happening in the blink of an eye and over millions of years.

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