Hydrology BC ENV 3025

HYDROLOGY - Homework # 1 due: Th 1/26/2012

Note: Please write down clearly how you obtained your results! Otherwise, we will not be able to identify the problem and to help you!

Unit conversion, dimensions, units, etc

1) (10 points) As discussed in class, it has been estimated that the total water mass added to the terrestrial oceans over Earth's  history of 4.5 Ga should lie between 4 and 22%. How does this compare to the amount of water added to the hydrologic cycle from degassing of the Earth (~ 1 km3/y) and the amount of water used in NYC (~1.1 billion gallons per day)? Express the results in the same units and express their relative magnitude in a comprehensible way. 

2) (6 points) As mentioned in class, in the US about 500 km3year-1 are withdrawn for off stream use. Express the NYC water consumption (1.1 billion gal day-1) as a fraction (%) of this.

3) (8 points) Imagine you would spread the oceans evenly over the whole Earth, how thick a layer of water would you obtain? Perform the same calculation for atmospheric waters (terrestrial plus marine) and for ice & snow. The diameter of the Earth is: 7,926 miles. Surface of a sphere = 4·3.14·r2. Express your result in meters. For the volumes of the individual reservoirs, use the numbers on the figure below. Assume that the density of water is 1 gcm-3.

In general, if you have questions, see me during office hours or send me an e-mail  (martins@ldeo.columbia.edu)