Section outline

  • About this module

    This module, prepared by Prof. Mohamed Rasmy, introduces fundamental hydrological processes and describes how water moves and is stored within a catchment. It explains basic concepts such as the water budget, evapotranspiration, runoff and surface energy balance, and introduces how these processes are represented in hydrological models. 

    The module also introduces different approaches to hydrological modelling, including lumped and distributed models, and describes the basic concepts of rainfall-runoff and inundation simulation. Particular attention is given to the Rainfall-Runoff-Inundation model (RRI model) and Water and Energy Budget-based RRI model (WEB-RRI model) and their use in flood forecasting, inundation analysis and broader water-related applications. 

    Learning Objectives

    By the end of this module, participants should be able to:

    • describe the main components of the hydrological cycle and catchment water budget;
    • explain the basic roles of precipitation, evapotranspiration, runoff, storage and energy exchange in catchment hydrology;
    • distinguish, in basic terms, between lumped and distributed hydrological modelling approaches;
    • describe the basic purpose and structure of rainfall-runoff-inundation modelling, including the RRI model; and
    • recognize how hydrological models can support flood forecasting, inundation assessment and water resources management.

    This course takes approximately 35 minutes to complete.