What a Hydrologist Does

The world's ever-increasing population has led to concerns about insufficient resources. One resource that can cause a lot of worries about shortages is water. Everyone needs it for everyday living, and often large quantities are needed for agriculture and industry. An increasingly popular field is hydrology- the study of water and its relationship to the environment.

A hydrologist is a person who studies the properties, distribution and movement of water, and seeks to solve problems related to its quality and availability. A hydrologist is a well-educated scientist who can find employment in the public and private sectors, putting that knowledge of water to good use.

Hydrology is primarily concerned with the water cycle, and seeks to understand the behavior of water at all stages of that cycle. The water cycle encompasses evaporation from the earth's surface, travel of water particles through the atmosphere, and its return to the surface in one form or another. A hydrologist is able to determine quantity and quality of water at specific stages of the cycle, and can be instrumental in determining if and how this sometimes-scarce resource can best be utilized in different situations.

Hydrologists can work in various capacities. Some operate solely as field researchers, while others perform analysis in an office setting. In the field, hydrologists may be involved in activities like water quality testing or collecting data. An analyst is involved with analysis of the data and can also participate in additional testing. Computers are used extensively, both in analysis, and for modeling potential solutions to problems. Many hydrologists work both in the field and in the office.

Some problems a hydrologist might be asked to solve might be finding ways to clean up polluted areas, finding safe places to dispose of hazardous waste, or finding water supplies for farms or cities. They may attempt to predict flooding, plan large water projects, or help determine the effects of leaking underground storage tanks.

Hydrologists are generally well educated, with many positions requiring a bachelor's degree, and many of the best jobs requiring at least a master's degree. Be aware that the degree is very science-intensive and will require aptitude in mathematics and statistics as well. Relatively few universities offer hydrology degrees, and these tend to be concentrated in the western United States.

If this field is of interest to you, and you are willing to spend time and money on your education, you are sure to find an interesting and rewarding career in hydrology.

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