GEOG209 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Water Cycle, Viscosity, Evapotranspiration

• School: University of Waterloo
• Department: Geography and Environmental Management
• Course: GEOG209
• Professor: Behrad Gharedaghloo

Document Summary

The study of water"s interaction with soil, rocks, biota, plants, humans. Utilizes bio, chem, ecology, math, and physics. Concerned with the distribution of fresh water on the surface of the earth and its movement over or beneath the surface and through the atmosphere. Mainly emphasizes processes involved in the land phase of the hydrologic cycle. Study of climate, defined as weather conditions averaged over a period of time. Examines the fluxes of energy, mass, and momentum between the land and ocean surfaces and the atmosphere. Typically involves data analysis, using stats or dynamical models. Involves phenomena such as el nino, and teleconnections. Eg: precipitation, evapotranspiration, groundwater, rivers, lakes, water balance, energy balance. This course: describe the energy and moisture exchanges between atmosphere, surface, and subsurface. It is important to understand water: drought/flooding, pollution, role in climate and climate change. Most common substances on the surface of the earth: ocean covers 70% of the planet.