Water is essential for all life on Earth and to us as we are made up mostly of water.
The study of the movement, distribution and quality of water on the planet is called hydrology. Treatment of drinking water, industrial water, sewage and wastewater and flood protection is also a part of the hydrological study. Hydrology has evolved into a scientific study of the water systems on earth and this study largely contributes to solving the water problems that we have already begun facing.
For those interested in the subject, this is an excellent career option with a lot of opportunities in a variety of fields.
FUTURE SCOPES FOR CAREERS IN HYDROLOGY
- The employment rate of hydrologists is projected to grow 5% over the next ten years, faster than the average for all occupations.
- Mining and other industrial companies which hire hydrologists to manage water supplies needed and affected by their operations
- State and local governments also hire hydrologists to monitor and manage water supplies in their jurisdiction and evaluate new developments they may grant permits.
- Engineering firms secure hydrologists to design or evaluate projects related to water supplies.
- Technological advancements like 5G, satellite communication and big data processing have helped the field of hydrology to develop further and make it a better career discipline for graduates with technical knowledge.
- The development of AI is an inevitable trend in huge-scale problems in the realm of hydrology and graduates with technological knowledge can work as geoscientists.
- Demand for the services of hydrologists will increase in areas such as mining, construction and hydraulic fracturing.
- Environmental concerns, especially global climate change and the possibility of sea-level rise in addition to local concerns such as flooding and drought are likely to increase demand for hydrologists in the future.
SKILLS REQUIRED TO STUDY HYDROLOGY
- Analytical skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Problem-solving ability
- Communication skills
- Basic computer knowledge
- Organizational skills
CAREERS IN HYDROLOGY
- Project engineer
- Hydrologic Sciences Program Coordinator
- Research Assistant
- Senior Surface Water Hydrologist
- Groundwater Hydrologist
- Hydrology Consultant
- Conservation Scientists
- Geoscientists
- Environmental scientists
- Environmental engineers
- Lecturer/Professor
ELIGIBILITY TO DO A DEGREE IN HYDROLOGY
Students who passed 10+2 from recognised institutions under the science stream can apply for Bachelor’s degree in Hydrology
TOP COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES IN INDIA AND ABROAD TO STUDY HYDROLOGY
- Delft University of Technology, Netherlands
- ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Switzerland
- The University of Arizona, US
- Beijing Normal University, China
- Wageningen University and Research, Netherlands
- University of New South Wales, Australia
- University of Queensland, Australia
- Texas A&M University, US
- University of California, US
- University of Bristol, UK
FAMOUS PEOPLE CONNECTED WITH HYDROLOGY
John G. Ferris
Internationally renowned hydrologist whose early efforts included extraction and management of groundwater.
Robert E. Horton
American civil engineer and soil scientist who is known as the father of modern hydrology.
TOP INSTITUTIONS THAT EMPLOY PEOPLE IN HYDROLOGY
- National Institute of Hydrology
- Delta-T devises Ltd.
- Itasca International, Inc.
- Stevens Water Monitoring Systems, Inc.
- OTT HydroMet
- Kaizen Imperial
- Architectural Firms
- Colleges & Universities
- Engineering Companies
- Environmental & Technical Consulting Firms
