Category Archives: Hydrology

Puddles and Soil Temperature. Part 3. Why didn’t the puddle freeze?

Based on the last two blogs, the evidence seems strong that the puddle was being fed by liquid water coming from underground springs. A colleague of mine, Kristina Katsaros, pointed out that even a spring-fed puddle might have frozen under … Continue reading

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Puddles and Soil Temperature, Part 2: Why is the water feeding the puddle not frozen?

This is the second in a series about an unusual winter puddle in Columbia, Missouri. Recall from last time that I mentioned that the water feeding the puddle would be coming to the surface from under the ground – either … Continue reading

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Puddles and Soil Temperature, Part I: Liquid puddles on a cold winter day

Mostly written 21 February 2008, from Columbia, Missouri, USA The temperature for the last few days has been below -5°C (about 20°F). The wind on my daily walks is cold but invigorating. So, I was surprised yesterday when we drove … Continue reading

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Watersheds Part 3

On the surface, we have something similar called “watersheds.” If the water isn’t soaking into the ground, hills act like our roofs, and the water flows on the surface until it hits a stream or river. If you look at … Continue reading

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Icicles and Watersheds Part 2: How much water flows off the top of two houses

What about the total amount of water coming off the roof? Suppose it is raining, so insulation doesn’t make any difference. Again, about twice as much water would flow off a given spot along the eaves for our house. But … Continue reading

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