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Hydrologist
Studies the movement, distribution, and quality of water on Earth.
Did you know?
Less than 1% of Earth's water is fresh and accessible — hydrologists help manage this precious resource
How subjects help
- Physics: Work out how fast water flows through rivers, pipes and the rock underground.
- Chemistry: Test river and well water for pollution to check that it is safe to drink.
- Geography: Study how rain drains across hills and valleys to predict where floods will hit.
- Mathematics: Build models that forecast how much water a reservoir will hold through a dry year.
A famous name
Luna Leopold: Chief Hydrologist of the US Geological Survey (1956-1966), a leader in the study of rivers.
Try it yourself: Be a weather watcher for a week
- Put the jar outside in an open spot, away from roofs and trees.
- At the same time each day, measure the water depth in millimetres, write it down, then empty the jar.
- Also note the sky each day: sunny, cloudy, windy, rainy.
- After a week, look for a pattern. Try to forecast tomorrow, then check if you were right.
Meteorologists, climate scientists and hydrologists all start with careful, regular measurements, then look for patterns over days or many years.
Also try: Float fresh water on the sea.
Known for it in
Netherlands, Australia, USA, Israel, UK