hydrology

Hydrology is the study of water in the natural environment and its response to man's activities. Expert knowledge of hydrological behaviour, past, present and future, is critically important at a time when the water environment faces increasing pressures. These include:

• rising demands on surface waters and groundwater for domestic supply
• changes in the use and management of land
• economic development and social change
• climate change

The impact of these pressures includes changing patterns of flood and drought risk, of delivery of pollutants from land to water, and of human behaviour in water use and management. These in turn can generate an increasing risk of damage to life, property, water resources and environmental quality. These pressures are faced globally, but water systems in SE England are under particular stress.

These pressures present a challenge to hydrologists to improve the evidence base and modelling tools, to ensure that the needs of society and the environment are properly managed. HYDRA provides the skills base need to meet this challenge, providing one of the world's greatest concentrations of expertise in hydrology, and world-wide experience. Recent advances in hydrological science contributed by members of HYDRA include:

• new methods to simulate rainfall under future climate
• novel techniques for the remote sensing of evaporation,
• improved understanding of the movement of water and pollutants in permeable landscapes and the complex interactions between groundwater and river flows,
• the development of improved methods for flood and drought risk assessment and management.

Information on staff with expertise in this field can be found in the directory of expertise or by contacting the champion for this area Professor Howard Wheater.

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