Exercise No.

7:
The Hydrosphere: The
Water Cycle and the
Watersheds
Introduction
The hydrosphere includes all water bodies on the surface of the Earth: oceans,
lakes, rivers, underground water and water as glacier or snow. Water surface
area comprises 70.8% of the Earth's total area which is largely (97%) ocean.
The hydrosphere is closely linked to the other spheres particularly the
atmosphere through the hydrologic cycle (or water cycle), the continual flow of
water from the ocean to the atmosphere to the land and back to the ocean
again. Since the quantities of water in each phase of the cycle are closely
linked, any changes in the amount of rainfall, evapotranspiration, or storage of
water on the land, affects the entire hydrologic cycle.
Storage of water on the ground is a function of watersheds. Watershed is a
natural unit of land upon which water from direct precipitation collects or is
stored. It is considered as a drainage basin or catchment area for water. The
watershed (Fig. 1) is the basic unit of water supply in the uplands as well as the
lowlands for agriculture and industry. Its degradation therefore, leads to
serious environmental problems that need to be addressed.

Figure 1. A watershed

Page 45 of 63
Vision: A globally competitive university for science, technology, and environmental conservation.
Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge TP-IMD-04
V0 07-15-2020
and innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
No.
 EaSc001: Earth Science

Learning Outcomes
In this exercise, the students should be able to:

1. To trace and explain the hydrologic cycle;

2. To get familiar with topographic maps (map symbols) depicting the
watersheds;
3. To understand the concept of watersheds and acquire the skills in
simple watershed characterization;
4. To be able to explain the importance of watershed protection and
conservation.

Materials
• Topographic maps
• Hand lens
• Ruler/triangular rule, mechanical pencil, tracing paper, eraser

Procedure

1. A Video showing on the hydrologic cycle will be done for the class,
for the students to understand how water moves from the oceans &
seas, to the atmosphere, to the land then back to the sea;
2. The students will be provided with topographic maps to be used in
the characterization of a watershed;

A. Interpreting map symbols:

Determine and draw the symbols and/or the color used to identify the
following features:

a. River
b. National Road
c. Provincial Road
d. Swamp
e. Buildings
f. Vegetation
g. Contour lines

Watershed characterization:

3. Trace the watershed under study and determine its characteristics in

terms of length, width, area, shape, and others. All markings should
be in your tracing paper and not in the topographic map.

Page 46 of 63
Vision: A globally competitive university for science, technology, and environmental conservation.
Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge TP-IMD-04
V0 07-15-2020
and innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
No.
 B. Distance measurement:

1. Overlay your topographic map with the tracing paper and choose
specific locations from the map and mark it as points A and B.
2. Measure the distance in cm between two points (A & B) and using
the bar scale convert it to ground distance (km).

C. Area measurement:
1. Measure the total length and total width of the area covered by the
Baybay topographic map quadrangle or the area assigned
to your group for study.
2. Compute for the total area of the map using the formula of a
rectangle (A = L x W).
3. Convert Map Area measurement from m2 into Hectares (1 Ha =
10,000 m2).
Scale (Representative Fraction, RF) 2 = Map Area / Ground
Area
Ground Area = Map Area X (50,000)2

D. Other topographic features;

a. Location (with grid Coordinates)
b. Topography (can be based from the given contour)
c. Elevation (ex. Highest point in the topographic map or of a specific
area)
d. Slope
e. Land use

E. If computers and internet connections are available for the class,

topographic maps of areas of interest of the students can be downloaded
through google maps then characterize based on properties as discussed
by the laboratory instructor.

References

1. Linsley, R.K. Jr., Kohler, M.A., and J.L.H. Paulhus. 1988. Hydrology for Engineers.
McGraw Hill Book Co. N.Y.
2. Singh, V.P. 1962. Elementary Hydrology. Prentice Hall, Inc. N.J.

Page 47 of 63
Vision: A globally competitive university for science, technology, and environmental conservation.
Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge TP-IMD-04
V0 07-15-2020
and innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
No.
 EaSc001: Earth Science

Earth Science 001

Laboratory Exercise No. 7

The Hydrosphere: The Water Cycle and the Watersheds

Name and Signature:_______________________ Date Conducted:_________

Lab Instructor/Lecturer: _____________________ Date Submitted: _________
Laboratory Schedule: _______________________ Rating: ________________

DATA SHEET

A. Interpreting Map Symbols

B. Distance Measurement

Page 48 of 63
Vision: A globally competitive university for science, technology, and environmental conservation.
Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge TP-IMD-04
V0 07-15-2020
and innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
No.
 C. Area Measurement

D. Other Topographic Features

Page 49 of 63
Vision: A globally competitive university for science, technology, and environmental conservation.
Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge TP-IMD-04
V0 07-15-2020
and innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
No.
 EaSc001: Earth Science

Guide Questions:

1. Illustrate the water cycle. What is its importance in relation to

availability of water for domestic, agriculture and industrial uses?

2. What is a watershed? What are the types of watersheds?

3. Explain the importance of watershed and watershed protection and

conservation.

Page 50 of 63
Vision: A globally competitive university for science, technology, and environmental conservation.
Mission: Development of a highly competitive human resource, cutting-edge scientific knowledge TP-IMD-04
V0 07-15-2020
and innovative technologies for sustainable communities and environment.
No.