PhD in Hydrologic Sciences - Physical Hydrology in Davis United States | University of California Davis

Physical hydrology encompasses the examination of water movement and pollutant transport in both underground and surface water systems. While direct field observations (such as stream flow rates, waterway shapes, groundwater levels, and underground reservoir characteristics) provide valuable data, they may not fully capture the key hydrological dynamics at work in a drainage area or aquifer. Creating digital simulations is frequently essential for gaining deeper insights and improving oversight of these water systems. Models vary from basic versions with minimal inputs that execute quickly on standard computers, to sophisticated systems requiring extensive processing time on high-performance machines. Learners can focus on tracking and simulating above-ground and subsurface water networks, covering aspects like water balance calculations, constructing computational models, and predicting water movement along with contaminant dispersion.