Project: Water Balance
A lot of people think that drought means a lack of precipitation. However, precipitation is only part of the equation. Another important aspect about what we need to consider is the natural loss of liquid water to the atmosphere, the processes known as evaporation and transpiration (evapotranspiration). The higher the temperature, the higher the rate of evaporation in a particular area. Therefore, it is possible to have a drought in one region one year with a given amount of precipitation (35 inches), and to not have a drought the next year with less precipitation (30 inches). This is caused by the latter year have a lower rate of evaporation due to lower temperatures. For us to have a good understanding of the stresses that are placed on water resource it is necessary to have a good understanding of the hydro-climatic processes that are at work at different locations. Here we are looking at the periods of surplus, water utilization, deficit, and recharge. An analysis of these help indicate the severity of water needs in a particular area. In the mid-latitudes, the winter season is generally associated with surplus, when the soil is holding its capacity of water, partially due to low rates of evaporation. Spring is associated with water utilization, where the water stored in the soil from winter is being used up, at least until there is no water left in storage. Summer is associated with periods of deficit, when there is no water in storage, due to a lack of precipitation and high evaporation rates. The fall is associated with recharge, where moisture is being added to the soil due to declining levels of evaporation as the atmosphere begins to cool. Below we are looking at 2 very different locations, Berkeley, California, which is in a fairly dry environment, with a winter-time precipitation maximum, and Terre Haute, Indiana, which has a peak of precipitation in the summer months. Compare them for similarities and differences in their hydro-climatologic data.
A. Study the attached table in Figure 1 on of this Lab Exercise. This represents the Water Budget of Berkeley, California.
B. Using the Terre Haute, Indiana, data given below, complete a data tabulation of the average annual water budget of the area:
Attachment:- Project.rar