Hydrology

Hydrology deals with the laws of water circulation on Earth. Excess and lack of water or its deteriorated quality represent a limiting factor for a number of human activities. The study and prediction of floods, droughts, and monitoring of the quality of water resources are therefore of considerable importance to human society. The research of the Department of Hydrology at the Institute of Hydrodynamics is thematically related primarily to water in soil. We focus on the study of factors affecting spatial and temporal changes in soil saturation and its influence on runoff formation from a catchment. We have been engaged in experimental monitoring and modeling of hydrological processes for a long time. Hydrological monitoring takes place mainly in the headwater areas of Czech mountains (the Bohemian Forest, The Giant Mountains), but it is currently being extended to agricultural catchments in the Elbe River lowlands (Polabí). The data from experimental sites serve as a basis for computer modeling. This allows us to predict the effects of future climatic or landscape changes on water availability and assess the effectiveness of the measures taken. Our goal is to deepen knowledge that will contribute to ensuring a sufficient water availability for human needs and a pleasant environment for life.