Historical Event in Hydrology
Marcus Vitruvius described a
philosophical theory of the
hydrologic cycle, in which
precipitation falling in the
mountains infiltrated the Earth's
surface and led to streams and
springs in the lowlands.
20th
Century
19th
Century
18th
Century
4000 BC 17th
Century
First
Century
BC
Hydrology has been
approached with a
more theoretical basis
than in the past,
facilitated by advances
in the physical
understanding of
hydrological processes
and by the advent of
computers and
especially geographic
information systems.
Of particular importance
were Leroy Sherman's unit
hydrograph, the infiltration
theory of Robert E. Horton,
and C.V. Theis' aquifer
test/equation describing
well hydraulics.
Rational analyses began to replace
empiricism in the 20th century,
while governmental agencies began
their own hydrological research
programs.
Development in
groundwater hydrology,
including Darcy's law, the
Dupuit-Thiem well formula,
and Hagen-Poiseuille's
capillary flow equation.
Advances in the 18th
century included the
Bernoulli piezometer and
Bernoulli's equation, by
Daniel Bernoulli, and the
Pitot tube, by Henri Pitot.
Edmund Halley showed
that the evaporation from
the Mediterranean Sea was
sufficient to account for
the outflow of rivers
flowing into the sea.
With the adoption of a more
scientific approach, Leonardo
da Vinci and Bernard Palissy
independently reached an
accurate representation of the
hydrologic cycle.
The ancient Sinhalese
used hydrology to build
complex irrigation works
in Sri Lanka, which
allowed construction of
large reservoirs, anicuts
and canals which still
function.
Edme Mariotte
combined velocity and
river cross-section
measurements to
obtain a discharge,
again in the Seine.
By measuring rainfall, runoff, and
drainage area, Pierre Perrault showed
that rainfall was sufficient to account
for the flow of the Seine.
The hydrologic
variables began
to be quantified.
The history of
China shows they
built irrigation
and flood control
works.
Mesopotamian towns
were protected from
flooding with high
earthen walls.
Aqueducts was built
by the Greeks and
Ancient Romans.
The Nile was dammed
to improve agricultural
productivity of
previously barren
lands.
1950s
