Hydrology: Principles and Processes

The book comprises nine chapters, with seven core chapters dealing in detail with the basic principles and processes of the main hydrological components of the water cycle: precipitation, interception, evaporation, soil water, groundwater, streamflow and water quality. It takes a broadly non-mathematical approach, although some numeracy is assumed particularly in the treatment of evaporation and soil water. The introductory and concluding chapters show the relations and interactions between these components, and also put the importance of water into a wider human context – its significant role in human history, its key role today, and potential role in future in the light of climate change and increasing global population pressures. The book is thoroughly up-to-date, contains over 100 diagrams and photographs to explain and amplify the concepts described, and contains over 750 references for further study.

“This book by Robinson and Ward is sure to become a classic text for hydrology students in upper-level undergraduate classes and on broad-based graduate programmes in hydrology. With superbly written explanations of key principles, and well-illustrated examples from the wider literature, this book is to be recommended as an accessible yet thorough introduction to hydrological science.”

Dr. Simon Dadson, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford

"The book represents an excellent summary of our current understanding of hydrological processes presented in a clear and concise way."

Professor Keith Beven, Lancaster University - read full review here.

Mark Robinson and Roy Ward are well known in hydrological circles for the several editions of their Principles of Hydrology book, the last of which appeared in 2011.  Now a change in publisher has allowed them to produce a completely revised version with a new title but with the same clear presentation. The book covers water quantity and water quality with an introductory chapter on the history of hydrology and final new chapter on Hydrology in a Changing World where the importance of water in a future world is stressed. The structure and approach is largely classical, but with reference to modern thought about hydrological processes, including groundwater in fractured rocks, the role of macropores in soils, and the displacement of old water and its effects on water quality. The text is full of carefully chosen and relevant references, significantly updated since the last book. The discussion is mostly discursive, but with the presentation of relevant equations to describe processes where appropriate, without making the book unduly mathematical. A good range of clearly drawn graphics helps the illustrate the discussion. This makes the level suitable for a first university course in hydrology for a wide range of students in geography and environmental science degrees. Each chapter is associated with a list of review problems and discussion topics, while reference is made to a wide range of relevant web sites, from sources of open data and model codes, and international hydrological organisations. The book represents an excellent summary of our current understanding of hydrological processes presented in a clear and concise way.

Professor Keith Beven, Lancaster University