Deterministic Methods in Systems Hydrology: IHE Delft Lecture Note Series

The material in this book was originally written and subsequently revised for students of hydrology from many countries throughout the world attending post-graduate courses at IHE Delft. The objective of the text was two fold - to present the theoretical foundation of the deterministic analysis of hydrological processes at a catchment scale and to compare results obtained when the methods are applied to some data sets appearing in the classical literature of hydrology.Chapters 1, 2 and 3 deal respectively with The Systems Viewpoint, The Nature of Hydrological Systems, and Systems Mathematics. Chapter 4 deals with the black box analysis of direct storm runoff on the operation of a linear time-invariant system and outlines the evaluation of this approach from simple trial-and-error to the separation of the roots of the Z-transform to derive the unit hydrograph on the basis of runoff data alone in the absence of rainfall data. Chapters 5 and 6 deal respectively with the basis theory and with the practical application of linear conceptual models of direct storm runoff. Chapter 7 deals with the use of simple models, linear and non-linear, of subsurface flow both unsaturated and saturated. Chapter 8 tackles some of the simpler problems of non-linear deterministic models. Four appendices on special topics are included.It is not possible for a single volume to present a comprehensive review of the techniques used in modern hydrology. The aim of this book is to present a solid foundation of knowledge to promote understanding and to assist the professional hydrologist to make reliable judgements in choosing the approach to complex hydrological problems.