| Abstract: | The concept of using the atmospheric water balance technique in the study of the hydrology of large (greater than 105km2) river basins is described. The atmospheric water balance technique consists of determining the spacial and time distributions and fluxes of water vapor through the atmospheric volume overlying the basin. The quantity precipitation minus evaporation at the earth's surface is determined as a residual of the computation. A review of the results of various experiments employing this technique is provided. The incorporation of the technique in a study of the hydrology of a large river basin is demonstrated by showing the results of a study of the hydrometeorology of the Upper Colorado River Basin. The example covers the study of eleven winter seasons, November through April, 1957–1968. The seasonal accumulation of water over the basin as determined by the atmospheric water balance is highly correlated with annual runoff. Correlation coefficient r = .8. The daily evaporation rate during dry days varies by a factor of two over the winter season, and is shown to be related to the incoming solar radiation intensity. |
