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Summit to the Sea:
river basin information for the general public georgia's river basins | basins by county name | basins by river basin name
the water cycle | hydrology | map of basins
what is hydrology? Hydrology is the study of water and its properties, scientific laws, and distribution. Hydrologists study surface water and groundwater and their interactions, which are part of the water cycle. Surface water is freshwater we see above ground. It includes streams, lakes, ponds and wetlands. Groundwater is freshwater that lies beneath the earth's surface. Most groundwater is stored in aquifers. Aquifers are areas underground where rock and soil are very porous. Many features of streams and rivers undergo constant change. Throughout a single day we may observe changes in water level, salinity, water flow speed, discharge (the amount of water passing a point on the river in a given amount of time), and sediment load (the amount of soil and gravel suspended in the water). These changes are caused by water input into the river. Rain and melting snow increase the amount of freshwater in rivers. Rain falls directly into rivers, and rainwater and melted snow on land surrounding the river runs downhill into the river. |
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