Hartmann (2026) The hydrologic cycle

Identification

• Journal: Elsevier eBooks
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-02-20
• Authors: Dennis L. Hartmann
• DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-443-27331-5.00017-1

Research Groups

Not applicable; this is a chapter from a textbook, "Global Physical Climatology, Third Edition," rather than a research paper from specific groups.

Short Summary

This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the hydrologic cycle, detailing its essential components, processes, and the methods for its measurement and modeling within the Earth's climate system.

Objective

• To describe the fundamental processes and components of the hydrologic cycle, including water balance, surface water storage, runoff, precipitation, dewfall, evaporation, and transpiration.
• To explain methods for measuring evapotranspiration and to introduce conceptual models for simulating the land-surface water balance.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Global (as implied by the context of "Global Physical Climatology").
• Temporal Scale: Various, covering the continuous movement of water, annual variations, and long-term constancy of total Earth water.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Discussion of conceptual models such as "The bucket model of land hydrology" and "More elaborate models of land-surface processes."
• Data sources: Discussion of "Measurement of Evapotranspiration" implies reliance on observational data for understanding and quantifying hydrologic processes.

Main Results

• The chapter outlines the continuous movement of water among oceans, atmosphere, cryosphere, and land, defining this as the hydrologic cycle.
• It details the components of the water balance, surface water storage, runoff, precipitation, dewfall, evaporation, and transpiration.
• It presents established methods for measuring evapotranspiration and introduces foundational models for simulating land-surface water balance.

Contributions

This chapter synthesizes and explains the fundamental concepts, processes, and modeling approaches related to the hydrologic cycle, serving as an educational resource within the broader field of physical climatology.

Funding

Not applicable; this is a chapter from a published textbook.

Citation

@article{Hartmann2026hydrologic,
  author = {Hartmann, Dennis L.},
  title = {The hydrologic cycle},
  journal = {Elsevier eBooks},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1016/b978-0-443-27331-5.00017-1},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-443-27331-5.00017-1}
}