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W. G. Hoyt

Publications and source records attributed to W. G. Hoyt.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Report of the committee on runoff, 1936–37

Since the last meeting of the Section of Hydrology there has been a change in the organization and membership of some of the research‐committees, one relating to rainfall, of which Merrill Bernard is Chairman, and one relating to runoff, were created to replace the one committee which had functioned heretofore on both rainfall and runoff. This action by the officers provides for greater participation of the members of the Section in committees, and is a step well worth while. The personnel of the Committee as of May 1, 1937, is as follows: H. K. Barrows R. W. Davenport I. E. Houk F. T. Mavis F. F. Snyder M. M. Bernard R. S. Goodridge W. G. Hoyt A. F. Meyer H. C. Troxell E. S. Cullings R. E. Horton Joseph Jacobs C. R. Pettis C. O. Wisler I consider it an honor to act as Chairman of the Committee on Runoff but regret, however, that I have been unable as yet to coordinate thoroughly the work of the Committee or to inform myself adequately on many runoff‐experiments and research‐problems. Consequently, my report will be very brief and informal.

Eos, Transactions, American Geophysical Union

Some general observations of physiographic and climatic influences on floods

The magnitude of flood‐runoff and the degree to which it concentrates in river‐channels with respect to time is known to vary within wide limits. To a considerable extent these variations relate to the physiographic and edaphlc features of the drainage‐basins as they have been developed by the geologic and climatic history of the particular province in which they are located. Although storms of high intensity occur throughout the United States, the runoff therefrom has been observed to have certain inherent characteristics in wet or humid areas that are different from those in arid or semiarld regions even though the laws governing the flow of water either over ground or in river‐channels are universal in application. Essential features of flood‐behavior in wet or humid areas where stream‐flow is sustained throughout the year and river‐channels and valleys are comparatively well defined and permanent, differ from those in arid or semiarld regions where stream‐flow is very erratic and flashy and the channels are formed largely by occasional intense runoff rather than the slow and orderly development by the continuous occupancy by flowing water. Moreover the flood‐problem in areas where a part of the precipitation occurs as snow differs from that in areas where all the precipitation occurs as rain. Furthermore, in areas where snow does occur there seems to be a wide range in flood‐runoff characteristics depending upon the temperature in and altitude of the particular zone. Some of the different flood‐characteristics as they relate to total runoff and the concentration thereof are described herein and possible reasons therefor are related to conditions which seem to be more or less inherent in particular physiographic and climatic provinces.

Eos, Transactions, American Geophysical Union

Committee on runoff, 1939–40

The Runoff Committee during the year has consisted of H. K. Barrows, Merrill Bernard, E. S. Callings, R. S. Goodridge, G. A. Hathaway, Joseph Jacobs, Prof. F. T. Mavis, H. S. Riesbol, Waldo E. Smith, F. F. Snyder, and H. G. Wilm. The Committee represents a rather wide geographic distribution, quite a large variety of interests, and most of the agencies interested in runoff‐problems. Throughout the year members of the Committee have shown interest in runoff‐problems of various kinds as evidenced by numerous articles and discussions in technical publications and by their participation in the deliberations of many working or advisory committees dealing with hydrologic problems. As the Chairman views it, the functions of the members of the research committees are not only to keep abreast of, and to make advances in, the technique relating to their particular fields, but also to demonstrate the practicability of the technique in the field of applied hydrology. Members of the Committee on Runoff have kept these aims in view. As in past years, the Committee is indebted to Miss Mary Soroka of New York City, Chairman of the International Committee on Bibliography, for her compilations of references to all articles relating to runoff, and to Mr. Beij for his work in connection therewith.

Eos, Transactions, American Geophysical Union

Report of committee on runoff, 1940–41

The Committee members are the same as last year, namely: H. K. Barrows; Merrill Bernard; E. S. Cullings; R. S. Goodridge; G. A. Hathaway; Joseph Jacobs; F. T. Havis; H. S. Riesbol; Waldo E. Smith; F. F. Snyder; and H. G. Wilm. During the year one addition was made, namely, AURELIO BENASSINI of Mexico City and associated with the Mexican Government. One of Mr. Benassini's associates, Mr. Quintero, was appointed on Mr. Bernard's Rainfall Committee, and in view of the fact that we have common hydrologic problems with Mexico, it seems desirable to have representatives of the Mexican Government on both the Rainfall and the Runoff Committees.

Eos, Transactions, American Geophysical Union

Report of Committee on Runoff, 1942–43

The Committee on Runoff was not formally constituted until February 6, 1943, when the members of the Section, as listed above, were asked to serve. At the suggestion of President CHURCH the Committee has been so selected that there is Nation‐wide geographic distribution from West to East with the majority of the Committee composed of younger men. If the 33 papers prepared for discussion at the regular sessions of the Section of Hydrology at the annual meeting of 1943 can be used as a measure, war instead of curtailing the activities of the Section has acted as an impetus. Also in the field of hydrology as a whole, war activities have apparently not resulted in a decrease of activities. There has been, however, a gradual decrease of activities in the field of research and an increase of activities in the field of applied hydrology. The enormous expansion of our industrial machine and the great concentration of armies and industrial workers into restricted areas; the demands for water, for power, for food and for municipal use; and operations underlying many of our war efforts, secret and otherwise—all these have created problems requiring the full‐time effort of hydrologists, both in private and governmental service. It is with some degree of satisfaction that each one of us can feel that either as a result of our past research or in our present positions we have been or are doing our bit to win the war.

Eos, Transactions, American Geophysical Union