Hydrologists
Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics > Science and MathematicsProjected Growth: Faster than average
Projected Job Openings
Extensive Preparation Needed
Job Description
Your job is to Research the distribution, circulation, and physical properties of underground and surface waters; and study the form and intensity of precipitation, its rate of infiltration into the soil, movement through the earth, and its return to the ocean and atmosphere.
Common job titles of Hydrologists include:
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Experience and Education
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
52.17% said they needed a Master's Degree.
39.13% said they needed a Bachelor's Degree.
Tasks
Coordinate and supervise the work of professional and technical staff, including research assistants, technologists, and technicians.
Monitor the work of well contractors, exploratory borers, and engineers and enforce rules regarding their activities.
Evaluate research data in terms of its impact on issues such as soil and water conservation, flood control planning, and water supply forecasting.
Answer questions and provide technical assistance and information to contractors or the public regarding issues such as well drilling, code requirements, hydrology, and geology.
Measure and graph phenomena such as lake levels, stream flows, and changes in water volumes.
Collect and analyze water samples as part of field investigations or to validate data from automatic monitors.
Design and conduct scientific hydrogeological investigations to ensure that accurate and appropriate information is available for use in water resource management decisions.
Prepare written and oral reports describing research results, using illustrations, maps, appendices, and other information.
Develop computer models for hydrologic predictions.
Review applications for site plans and permits and recommend approval, denial, modification, or further investigative action.
Conduct research and communicate information to promote the conservation and preservation of water resources.
Study and analyze the physical aspects of the earth in terms of hydrological components, including atmosphere, hydrosphere, and interior structure.
Evaluate data and provide recommendations regarding the feasibility of municipal projects, such as hydroelectric power plants, irrigation systems, flood warning systems, and waste treatment facilities.
Install, maintain, and calibrate instruments such as those that monitor water levels, rainfall, and sediments.
Develop or modify methods for conducting hydrologic studies.
Investigate complaints or conflicts related to the alteration of public waters, gathering information, recommending alternatives, informing participants of progress, and preparing draft orders.
Apply research findings to help minimize the environmental impacts of pollution, waterborne diseases, erosion, and sedimentation.
Study public water supply issues, including flood and drought risks, water quality, wastewater, and impacts on wetland habitats.
Prepare hydrogeologic evaluations of known or suspected hazardous waste sites and land treatment and feedlot facilities.
Study and document quantities, distribution, disposition, and development of underground and surface waters.
Investigate properties, origins, and activities of glaciers, ice, snow, and permafrost.
Compile and evaluate hydrologic information to prepare navigational charts and maps and to predict atmospheric conditions.
Administer programs designed to ensure the proper sealing of abandoned wells.
Design civil works associated with hydrographic activities and supervise their construction, installation, and maintenance.
Conduct short- and long-term climate assessments and study storm occurrences.
Tools
Wireless data collection systems
Well/surface water dataloggers
Water level recorders
Underwater video cameras
Underwater temperature recorders
Two way radios
Turbidimeters
All ToolsTotal stations
Swing water samplers
Surface water velocity measurement probes
Suction samplers
Subsurface grab water samplers
Submersible water quality sensors
Submersible pressure and level sensors
Stream flow gauges
Standpipe multi-packer systems for long-term monitoring of deep boreholes
Spring scales
Specific gravity hydrometers
Sounding reels
Soil samplers
Sieve shakers
Sediment samplers
Salinity meters
Respirators
Radiological monitoring equipment
Radar equipment
Portable pumping and sampling systems
Pore pressure piezometers
Pipettes
pH meters
Personal computers
Oil water interface meters
Notebook computers
Multiparameter water quality instruments
Multi-port sampling systems to monitor groundwater
Micrometers
Map templates
Mainframe computers
Light density meters
Levels
Laser printers
Laboratory vacuum pumps
Laboratory ovens
Instream sediment collectors
Inclinometers
In-situ pore water samplers
Ice meters
Hydrological current meters
Hydraulic fracturing systems
Handheld data collection units
Groundwater sampling peristaltic pumps
Groundwater data logging instruments
Global positioning system GPS receivers
Flow-through field fluorometers
Filter flasks
Extensometers
Erosion monitors
Drive-point piezometers
Double-packer systems
Doppler current and depth meters
Dissolved oxygen meters
Dip nets
Dessicators
Desktop computers
Data logging pressure/temperature sensors
Core samplers
Conductivity meters
Clinometers
Cellular telemetry system water level monitors
Calipers
Biological oxygen demand water samplers
Bailers
Technologies
Advanced Logic Technology WellCAD
Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
Autodesk AutoCAD MAP3D
Autodesk Land Desktop
Bentley MicroStation
BOSS International Visual Groundwater
C++
All TechnologiesCarlson SurvCADD
ESRI ArcGIS software
Geographic information system GIS software
Integrated Environmental Services 3D Master
Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP
Python
Scientific Software Group 3DFATMIC
Scientific Software Group 3DFEMFAT
Scientific Software Group EVS
SEDCAD
Amtec Engineering Tecplot
Argus ONE Open Numerical Environments
Bentley Systems gINT
Biodegration flow and transport modeling software
Clover Technology GALENA
Data visualization software
EarthSoft EQuIS Geology
EarthVision
Electric Rain Swift 3D
EnviroData Solutions
EnviroInsite
Environmental Software and Services SUTRA
ESRI ArcView
Fitts Geosolutions TWODAN
Formlink HydroGEN
Formula translation/translator FORTRAN
GAEA Technologies Packet ESA
GAEA Technologies WinLog
GAEA Technologies WinSieve
Geomechanical design analysis GDA software
GIS/Solutions GIS/Key
Golden Software Strater
Golden Software Surfer
Groundwater modeling system GMS
Groundwater Software QuickCross/Fence
Groundwater Software QuickLog
Groundwater Software Visual Site Manager
Groundwater Vistas
HEC RAS
HEC-1
HEC-2
Hydrologic simulation program fortan HSPF software
HydroSOLVE AQTESOLV
Laboratory information management system LIMS
Logger data manager LDM
Logplot software
MLPU
National pollutant discharge elimination system NPDES compliance software
Parameter Estimation PEST
PRINCE
Revised universal soil loss equation RUSLE software
River Lake Altimetry Product
RockWare ChemFlux
RockWare Geochemist’s Workbench GWB
RockWare MODFLOW
RockWare RockWorks
RockWare SieveGraph
Satellite database software
Scientific Software Group AQUA3D
Scientific Software Group AquaDyn
Scientific Software Group AQUASEA
Scientific Software Group Aquifer win32
Scientific Software Group AQUIPACK
Scientific Software Group AT123D
Scientific Software Group BIO1D
Scientific Software Group BIOF&T
Scientific Software Group BIOSLURP
Scientific Software Group BioTrends
Scientific Software Group CHASM
Scientific Software Group ChemGraph
Scientific Software Group ChemPoint/ChemStat
Scientific Software Group DTM
Scientific Software Group Enviro-Base Pro
Scientific Software Group EnviroScape
Scientific Software Group FEFLOW
Scientific Software Group Filter Drain FD
Scientific Software Group GFLOW
Scientific Software Group HydroGeo Analyst
Scientific Software Group HYDROGEOCHEM
Scientific Software Group Infinite Extent
Scientific Software Group MARS 2-D/3-D
Scientific Software Group MIDUSS
Scientific Software Group MIGRATE
Scientific Software Group MINTEQA2
Scientific Software Group MOCDENSE
Scientific Software Group MODFLOWT
Scientific Software Group MODPUMP
Scientific Software Group MODRET
Scientific Software Group MOFAT
Scientific Software Group MohrView
Scientific Software Group MOVER
Scientific Software Group MS-VMS
Scientific Software Group MT3D99
Scientific Software Group OILVOL
Scientific Software Group POLLUTE
Scientific Software Group QHM
Scientific Software Group QuickSoil
Scientific Software Group RISC WorkBench
Scientific Software Group RIVERMorph
Scientific Software Group RMT
Scientific Software Group SEQUENCE
Scientific Software Group SESOIL
Scientific Software Group SLAEM/MLAEM
Scientific Software Group Soil Vapor Extraction BioSVE
Scientific Software Group SOILPARA
Scientific Software Group SOLUTRANS
Scientific Software Group StepMaster
Scientific Software Group SURF
Scientific Software Group SVFlux
Scientific Software Group SVHeat
Scientific Software Group TUFLOW
Scientific Software Group VAM2D
Scientific Software Group WinFlow
Scientific Software Group WinTran
Scientific Software GroupWHI UnSAT Suite
Scientific Software GroupWinFence
Softree Technical Systems Terrain Tools
SoilVision Systems SVGrainsize
SoilVision Systems SVOFFICE
Spreadsheet software
Starpint Software Super Slug
StatPoint StatGraphics Plus
Structure query language SQL
Surface water modeling system SMS software
Trimble Pathfinder Office
Trimble TerraSync
Vieux & Associates Vflow
Visual MODFLOW Pro
Waterloo Hydrogeologic AquaChem
Waterloo Hydrogeologic AquiferTest Pro
Waterloo Hydrogeologic RBC Tier 2 Analyzer
Waters eLab Notebook
Watershed modeling system WMS software
Skills
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Science
Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Mathematics
Using mathematics to solve problems.
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Systems Analysis
Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Learning Strategies
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Persuasion
Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Instructing
Teaching others how to do something.
Systems Evaluation
Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Abilities
Listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Cognitive Abilities › Verbal Abilities › Oral Comprehension
Read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Cognitive Abilities › Verbal Abilities › Written Comprehension
Communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Cognitive Abilities › Verbal Abilities › Oral Expression
Communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Cognitive Abilities › Verbal Abilities › Written Expression
Tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Cognitive Abilities › Idea Generation and Reasoning Abilities › Problem Sensitivity
Apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Cognitive Abilities › Idea Generation and Reasoning Abilities › Deductive Reasoning
Combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Cognitive Abilities › Idea Generation and Reasoning Abilities › Inductive Reasoning
Choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Cognitive Abilities › Quantitative Abilities › Mathematical Reasoning
Generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Cognitive Abilities › Idea Generation and Reasoning Abilities › Category Flexibility
Come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Cognitive Abilities › Idea Generation and Reasoning Abilities › Fluency of Ideas
Come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
Cognitive Abilities › Idea Generation and Reasoning Abilities › Originality
Add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
Cognitive Abilities › Quantitative Abilities › Number Facility