Hydrologists and hydrogeologists are water scientists who study the properties of freshwater and its distribution on the continents.
Together, hydrology and hydrogeology provide information on how to manage and protect freshwater, humans most essential natural resource.
Hydrology and hydrogeology are distinct fields of study that employ different methods and techniques, but they overlap to provide a complete picture of Earth’s freshwater resources.
Hydrology deals with the physical properties of surface freshwater, such as lakes and rivers, and with its chemical interactions with other substances.
Hydrogeology is a subfield of geology (study of Earth) that specifically addresses groundwater—water moving through tiny openings in rock and soil layers beneath the land surface.
In practice, ground and surface water interact as a single system. Surface water seeps into the ground and groundwater emerges to the surface.
Hydrogeologists work to explain the geological effects of surface water in rivers, streams and lakes, and hydrologists lend their technical expertise to the mechanics and chemistry of moving groundwater.
