As the world's human population continues to grow, intense pressure is being exerted on fresh-water resources. The lack of adequate clean water is seen as one of the most serious global problems for the 21st century. Human health and the health of supporting ecosystems will therefore increasingly depend on our ability to find, control and manage water. This encyclopedia should be a useful reference for all hydrologists, hydrogeologists and water engineers worldwide, whether they are concerned with the exploitation of new sources of water, the protection and management of existing reserves, or the science of surface water and groundwater flow. Over 130 scientists from over 21 countries worldwide have contributed to this volume.
Illustrated throughout, it includes over 300 entries on a range of key topics, including: arid and semi-arid zones; climates and climate change; floods and droughts; desertification; entropy; flow measurement; groundwater; hydrological cycle; hydrological models; infiltration; karst hydrology; paleohydrology; precipation; remote sensing; river pollution prevention; rivers, lakes and seas; satellite hydrology; soil erosion; water treatment; water use; weather radar; and world water balance.