GEOG 311 - Introduction to Hydrology Midterm Name:
Write your name on ALL pages [top right hand corner]. Answer the
questions in the spaces provided on the question sheets. Good luck!
This exam has two parts: Part 1 - 5 definitions worth 10 points and Part 2 - 7 short answer
questions worth 35 points, for a total of 45 points.
Formulae and unit conversion
Q = volume/time
h=ψ+z
days in a non-leap year = 365
1 km2 = 106 m2
Part 1: Definitions
10 1. Define all of the following terms in one or two sentences (2 points each):
(a) net rainfall:
Solution: Gross rainfall minus interception loss.
(b) porosity:
Solution: The fraction of soil volume that is comprised of pore space.
(c) return period:
Solution: The mean length of time between rainfall events of a given magni-
tude.
(d) aquifer:
Solution: Saturated permeable geological unit that can transmit significant
quantities of water under ordinary hydraulic gradients.
(e) infiltrability:
Solution: The maximum rate at which water can enter a soil.
GEOG 311 Midterm Exam, Page 2 of 6 Name:
Part 2: Short answers
3 2. You are asked to install a precipitation gauge for measuring rainfall that is representative
for the SFU Burnaby campus. List three considerations you would make about the
installation and location, and explain why they are important for minimizing error in
the measurements.
Solution: Maximize distance from buildings and trees, minimize influence from
wind, minimize potential for vandalism. Install wind shield to reduce error. Install
a heater or other component to be able to measure snow.
3 3. Cooling air to a temperature below the point where condensation occurs causes pre-
cipitation. This cooling occurs by lifting the air to higher and cooler elevations in the
atmosphere. List three mechanisms that lift air causing it to cool and precipitation to
occur.
Solution: Three of convection, convergence (non-frontal), convergence (frontal),
orographic processes.
2 4. Suppose the pressure potential at a given position within a soil is positive. What can
you infer about the water content?
Solution: The soil water content in the soil matrix must be close to saturation or
is at saturation.
GEOG 311 Midterm Exam, Page 3 of 6 Name:
5. The basic water balance for a catchment is often give by
P = Q + ET (1)
where P is catchment averaged mean annual precipitation, Q is mean annual discharge
(streamflow), and ET is catchment averaged mean annual evapotranspiration.
3 (a) Suppose the mean annual precipitation measured over a catchment is 2200 mm per
year and that mean annual discharge is 0.09 m3 /s. Given that the catchment area
is 2.8 km2 , compute the mean annual evapotranspiration in mm.
Solution: Convert to same units:
Volume of Q = 0.09 m3 /s × 60 × 60 × 24 × 365 = 2838240 m3 /year
Depth of Q = 2838240 m3 /year /2800000 = 1.014 m = 1014 mm
ET = P - Q = 2200 - 1014 = 1186 mm
2 (b) What assumptions are required for equation 1 to be valid?
Solution: ∆S is zero
GEOG 311 Midterm Exam, Page 4 of 6 Name:
6 6. List three factors that influence soil infiltration rates. For each factor briefly describe
how it might either increase or decrease infiltration rates.
Solution:
Various flow influences, soil surface conditions, subsurface conditions, hydrophobic-
ity, etc. Must describe how the factor might either increase or decrease infiltration
rates.
6 7. List three factors that influence forest canopy interception rates. For each factor briefly
describe how it might either increase or decrease interception rates.
Solution: Any three of storm size, available energy for evaporation, snow vs rain,
leaf type, growing vs dormant season, stand structure, surface roughness. Must
describe how the factor might either increase or decrease interception rates.
GEOG 311 Midterm Exam, Page 5 of 6 Name:
8. The figure below shows a soil cross-section with a well, piezometer and tensiometer
installed. Suppose the pressure head measured at the tensiometer cup is –80 cm.
6 (a) Compute the total hydraulic head and the pressure head at points A, B, and C.
Show your calculations.
Solution: At point A: z = -20 cm ψ = -80 cm h = -100 cm
At point B: z = -80 cm ψ = 0 cm h = -80 cm
At point C: z = -110 cm ψ = 20 cm h = -90 cm
2 (b) What direction is water flowing? Briefly justify your answer.
Solution: Water appears to be flowing upwards above the water table, because
h at B is greater than h at A. Water appears to be flowing downwards below
the water table, because h at B is greater than h at C.
2 (c) Is a zero-flux plane present in the soil? Explain briefly.
Solution: Yes. Because a zone of upward flow lies above a zone of downward
flow, there must be a plane of zero vertical flux somewhere between points A
and C.
GEOG 311 Midterm Exam, Page 6 of 6 Name:
End of examination
Question Points Score
1 10
2 3
3 3
4 2
5 5
6 6
7 6
8 10
Total: 45
