Due to its height, density, and thickness of crown canopy; fluffy forest floor; large root system; and horizontal distribution; forest is the most distinguished type of vegetation on the earth. In the U.S., forests occupy about 30 percent of the total territory. Yet this 30 percent of land area produces about 60 percent of total surface runoff, the major water resource area of the country. Any human activity in forested areas will inevitably disturb forest floors and destroy forest canopies, consequently affecting the quantity, quality, and timing of water resources. Thoroughly updated and expanded, Forest Hydrology: An Introduction to Water and Forests, Third Edition discusses the concepts, principles, and processes of forest and forest activity impacts on the occurrence, distribution, and circulation of water and the aquatic environment.

Introduction Water Spectrum Forest Spectrum Issues and Perspectives Functions of Water Biological Functions Chemical Functions Physical Functions Socioeconomic Functions Mechanical Functions Political Functions Military Functions Science of Water Water in History Hydrosciences Properties of Water Physical Properties Hydraulic Properties Chemical Properties Biological Properties Water Distribution Globe United States Hydrologic Cycle Water Resource Problems Water Demand and Supply Water Quantity Water Quality Water Rights Characteristic Forests A Natural Resource Environmental Functions Functional Forests Threats to Forests Forests and Climate Change Forests and Precipitation Precipitation Processes Forest Interception Snow Accumulation and Snowmelt Do Forests Increase Precipitation? Forests and Vaporization Vaporization Processes Sources of Energy Evapotranspiration Forested versus Nonforested Forests and Streamflow Quantity Runoff Generation Watershed Discharges Deforestation Forest Fires Afforestation Forests and Streamflow Quality Water Pollutants Sources of Water Pollution Water Quality Determination Forest Practices Forests and Stream Sediment Soil Erosion Processes Watershed Gross Erosion Estimation of Sediment Yield Vegetation Effects Trends in Sediment Loads of the World’s Rivers Forests and Stream Habitat Stream Habitat Forest Impacts Forest Fires Forests and Flooding Folklore and Fallacies Flood Occurrences Flood Measures Forest Impacts Watershed Management Planning and Implementation Watershed Programs/Projects Watershed Inventory Watershed Analysis Watershed Management Strategies Watershed Management Plans Watershed Assessment Research in Forest Hydrology Research Issues Principles of Field Studies Research Methods The Wagon Wheel Gap Study