Meaning of Hydrography (What it is, Concept and Definition)

What is Hydrography:

Hydrography is part of physical geography that is responsible for studying the description of seas, rivers, lakes and other water currents. The word hydrography is of Greek origin and is made up of the expressions “hydor” what does it mean “water” and “graphein” represents “engrave” either “write” plus the suffix “ito”which expresses “quality” either “action”.

Also, the term hydrography refers to the set of seas, rivers, lakes, among other water currents that make up an area or region.

The study of continental waters covers: flow, basin, hydrographic slope, channel or bed, fluvial regime, erosion, fluvial sedimentation, types of valleys and slopes. Likewise, it is responsible for describing the nature and configuration of the seabed, its relationship with adjacent land masses, and the characteristics and dynamics of the sea.

See also:

In reference to the above, hydrography encompasses other sciences such as: climatology, hydrology, geology, among others. Also, the study carried out by hydrography includes bathymetry, which is responsible for vertically measuring depth, geodosy, geophysics, and also the mediation of horizontal and vertical movements of the water column.

The main objective of hydrography is to obtain information that allows the creation of nautical charts. Nautical charts are a scale representation of navigable waters, they indicate the depth of the water, height of land, details of the coast, nature of the bottom, navigation dangers and endless information that allows sailors to set sail safely. .

On the other hand, the hydrographers They are the professionals who study hydrography and analyze navigable waters around the world. They are also responsible for preparing charts and maps that demonstrate the formation and location of channels, water depths, marine currents, among other points. Hydrographers are also in charge of studying the influence of winds in accordance with the rhythm of waters and seas.

In almost all countries they provide hydrographic services and there is also the International Coordination of Hydrographic Information, known as, “International Hydrographic Organization”, founded in 1921, with headquarters in Monaco. Likewise, it is an intergovernmental entity that is responsible for promoting the use of hydrography for the safety of navigation and other maritime purposes; improve the quality of data, information, hydrographic services, resources, techniques, among others; provide advice on all hydrographic issues to all States and International Organizations and facilitate hydrographic activity between member states.

Hydrography is a very important science not only for navigation but also for the protection of the marine, river, and lake environment. Due to hydrography, nautical charts are prepared to safely transport hydrocarbons, underwater minerals and marine ecosystems are known, allowing sports sailors to have updated navigation routes. It is also essential for the development of a nation’s infrastructure, based on the construction of ports and transportation as well as the exploitation of marine resources. By virtue of the above, hydrography for human beings is of utmost importance for their development and survival since, based on its studies, it allows the production of dams that generate electricity, the minerals obtained from its riverbed are used to obtain metals. and produce construction materials and the exploitation of aquatic animals that are part of man’s diet.

Hydrography and hydrology

However, the terms hydrography and hydrology should not be confused. Both are natural sciences that treat water, with the difference that hydrology It deals with water in the atmosphere, precipitation, humidity, evaporation, that is, with the functioning of water on the planet, in turn, hydrography It is responsible for studying all the waters of the earth and measuring, collecting, analyzing and representing relative data on the ocean floor, coasts, tides, currents, among others.

See also Runoff.

Hydrography and orography

Unlike hydrography, a term previously studied, the word orography is of Greek origin.golds” what does it mean “mountain”, “graphein” which expresses “engrave” and the suffix “ia” which translates as “quality”. Consequently, the orography It is part of physical geography that is responsible for the description of mountains.

On the other hand, the term orography identifies the set of mountains of a region, region, country, etc..

Finally, orographic studies are of utmost importance since they allow you to study the relief of a mountain and know the characteristics of the subsoil, information that is very useful for the areas of construction, agriculture and mining.