Study and protect Earth's water systems
Hydrologists study the distribution, movement, and quality of water across the planet — measuring streams, modeling floods and aquifers, and helping engineers, agencies, and communities manage water resources sustainably.
You head out at sunrise to a stream gauge, wade in to measure discharge with an ADCP, collect water samples, then return to the office to QC the data, run a HEC-HMS runoff model, and brief the county on flood risk.
Start the free Hydrologist Career Explorer — short videos, quick quiz questions and a certificate.