Hydrology of the Hawaiian Islands / L. Stephen Lau and John F. Mink.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lau, L. Stephen (Leung-Ku Stephen), 1929-

Contributor:

Mink, John F. (John Francis), 1924-2005.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Hydrology--Hawaii.

Hydrology.

Water-supply--Hawaii.

Water-supply.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (274 p.)

Place of Publication:

Honolulu : University of Hawai'i Press, c2006.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Why is groundwater the predominant drinking water source in Hawaii? Why are groundwater sources susceptible to pesticide contamination? How long does it take for water in the mountains to journey by land and underground passages to reach the coast? Answers to questions such as these are essential to understanding the principles of hydrology-the science of the movement, distribution, and quality of water-in Hawaii. Due to the humid tropical climate, surrounding ocean, volcanic earth, and high mountains, many hydrologic processes in the Islands are profoundly different from those of large continents and other climatic zones. Management of water, land, and environment must be informed by appropriate analyses, or communities and ecosystems face great uncertainty and may be at risk. The protection of groundwater, coastal waters, and streams from pollution and the management of flood hazards are also significant. This volume presents applications of hydrology to these critical issues.The authors begin by outlining fundamental hydrologic theories and the current general knowledge then expand into a formal discussion specific to Hawaii and the distinctive elements and their interrelations under natural and human-influenced conditions. They include chapters on rainfall and climate, evaporation, groundwater, and surface runoff. Details on the quantification of hydrologic processes are available to those with more technical knowledge, but general readers with an interest in the topic-one of singular importance for the Hawaiian Islands-will find much in the volume that is timely and accessible.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

List of Illustrations

List of Tables

Preface

Acknowledgments

1. Geological Environment

2. Hydrologic Cycle

3. Precipitation

4. Evaporation

5. Wetting the Surfaces

6. Groundwater

7. Surface Water

8. Coastal Waters

Human Effects: Land Use and Water Discharge

Models and Data

Glossary

References

Index

About the authors

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 28. Aug 2019)

Includes bibliographical references (p. [247]-267) and index.

ISBN:

9780824862893

0824862899

9781435665828

1435665821

OCLC:

256492049