Hydrologist may be defined as a practitioner of Hydrology. It is the science of the movement of water through the atmosphere on the land surface, and underground. It also includes the study of rocks and minerals of the Earth, as well as its critical interaction with living organisms.
If you are a person who has the curiosity to better understand the world in which you are living and have a flair for unconventional kind of career then the career of a hydrologist is one of the best options for you.
The job profile of a Hydrologist involves a wide range of activities in order to monitor manage and protect the water environment. Many activities and studies would be impossible without hydrometric data measurement, collection and archiving. Much of hydrology involves the interpretation and analysis of such data and hydrologist frequently develop and use mathematical models to duplicate the physical processes they examine.
To discharge his duties with utmost efficiency, a Hydrologist should have good interpretation skills, be confident in accepting challenges and an ability to understand things as they come before him. They have to look into every minute details of the facts to conclude as precisely as possible. So to acquire these kinds of traits or to tone up the traits if one already has one can go for course specially designed for the professional who has decided to choose this as the career.
Young people with desire and capacity for hard work can get both money and satisfaction in this profession. But to reach such high positions one will have to work hard.
Hydrologist Eligibility
Although there is no degree/undergraduate course in India in hydrology as a subject in its own right, yet hydrology is well covered as a part of programmes like civil engineering, geography, environmental science and management. Thus a bachelor’s degree in such a related field to hydrology is required to start a career as a hydrologist.
Candidates should have passed 10+2 or equivalent examination with Geography as one of the subjects to be eligible to get admission to relevant courses.
Hydrologist Required Skills
- Hydrologist should have critical thinking such as using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- They should be able to use scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
- They should also be able to understand the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- They could also be able to identify complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
How to become a Hydrologist?
To become a Hydrologist one has to follow the given steps:
Step 1
After completing 12th class preferably with geography as one of the main subjects the aspiring candidate has to appear in an entrance test conducted by various Universities providing 3-4 years of Bachelor’s degree courses in the colleges affiliated with them. However, some colleges/universities also give admission on the basis of % of marks obtained in the qualifying examinations.
Step 2
After completing this 3-4 years of course in which one has to go through all the major aspects one has to take up any of the following Master’s degree course to make his career as a hydrologist.
- M.Tech. Hydrology
- P.G. Diploma in Hydrology
- M.E. Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering
- Advanced Diploma in Water Resources Engineering
- M.Sc. in Hydrology etc.
Step 3
After completing this 2 years of course in which one has to go through all the major aspects of Hydrology one can work for a variety of Governmental and non-Governmental organization some of them has been summed up as follows:
- Government - Developing policies and regulating and managing the environment.
- World Organisations - International cooperation, emergency relief and transfer of the technology.
- Consultancy - Providing services and consultancy in civil engineering, environmental management and assessment.
- Academic and Research - Undertaking teaching and research into new analytical techniques
- Utility Companies and Public Authorities - Provide water supply and sewerage services.
Institutes offering Courses for Hydrologist
- National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee
- A.G. Teachers College, Ahmedabad
- Andhra University (AU), Vishakhapatnam
Hydrologist Job Description
Hydrologist Job Description includes:
- Hydrometric and water quality measurements by working in tandem with biologists and ecologists to monitor river and lake conditions.
- Process studies involving investigating patterns of rainfall and other forms of precipitation. The study of ice, snow and glaciers.
- The application involves assessing the consequences of changes in land use and developing models of hydrological processes and systems. Because of so many activities involved in the same profession, it is being considered as one of the most absorbing yet interesting profession.
- They make use of various methods to study a broad range of disciplines. They collect data from reliable sources, evaluate it using scientific methods. On the basis of their findings and analysis, they suggest potential applications of the results of their survey and help to find solutions to the problem at hand.
- This profession provides an opportunity for unleashing one's analytical potential to a very high degree. It demands a lot of hard work and effort but at the same time, offers enormous scope for the building of one’s career.
Hydrologist Career Prospects
Hydrologist jobs are available in private as well as public sector organisations like the geological survey of India, Metrological departments etc. Hydrologists can find employment in International organisations also who are working in this field. Nowadays they can also find work even with multimedia channels like Geographic Channel, Discovery etc.
Hydrologist Salary
Hydrologist can expect a salary between Rs.30,000 to Rs.35,000 to start with. After gaining some on-job experience one can earn as good as Rs.40,000 per month and more. If one goes for mass media channels or for some research work one can even get anywhere near Rs.1,00,000 per assignment. However, it depends upon the assignment and the importance of it, for which it is been taken up.
