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Glossary of Hydrologic Terms - S

Glossary of Hydrologic Terms - S

These definitions have been compiled from various sources, including the USGS's Water Resources Data, Weather Service Operations Manual, Chapter E-90, and Glossary of Meteorology (AMS, 1959).

Index

A B C D E F G
H I J K L M
N O P Q R S T
U V W X Y Z
Sacramento Soil Moisture Accounting Model (SACSMA)
A conceptual model that estimates runoff using a water balance to simulate the movement of water through the soil.
second-day foot (sdf)
The volume of water represented by a flow of one cubic foot per second (cfs) for 24 hours; equal to 86,400 cubic feet.
seepage
The interstitial movement of water that may take place through a dam, its foundation, or abutments.
service hydrologist
The person in a WFO who is responsible for management of the hydrology program in the office's hydrologic service area.
snow course
An established line traversing represtantive terrain in a moutainous region of appreciable snow accumulation. Along this course instruments (either ground- or airplane-based) measure the water content of the snowpack.
soil moisture
Water diffused in the upper part of the soil mantle that is lost by the transpiration of plants or by soil evaporation.
spillway
A structure over or through which excess or flood flows are discharged. If the flow is controlled by gates, it is a controlled spillway, if the elevation of the spillway crest is the only control, it is an uncontrolled spillway.
spillway crest
The elevation of the highest point of a spillway.
spring
  1. An issue of water from the earth
  2. A natural fountain
  3. A source of a reservoir of water
stage (gage height)
The height of a water surface above an established "zero" plane, or datum.
storm hydrograph
A hydrograph representing the total flow or discharge past a point for a particular rain event.
stage-discharge curve
see rating curve
streamflow (also discharge)
Water flowing in the stream channel.
stream recession length
The time required for a stream, which has experienced a rise, to fall to its normal, or baseflow stage.
surface runoff
That part of the runoff which travels over the soil surface to the nearest stream channel.
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