Its applications include rainfall and runoff, the routes that surface water takes (for example through rivers or reservoirs), and the occurrence of floods and droughts.
[1] Surface-water hydrology is used to predict the effects of water constructions such as dams and canals.
It considers the layout of the watershed, geology, soils, vegetation, nutrients, energy and wildlife.
[2] Modelled aspects include precipitation, the interception of rain water by vegetation or artificial structures, evaporation, the runoff function and the soil-surface system itself.
While groundwater is not part of surface-water hydrology, it must be taken into account for a full understanding of the behaviour of surface water.