hydrography

[ hahy-drog-ruh-fee ]

noun

1. the science of the measurement, description, and mapping of the surface waters of the earth, with special reference to their use for navigation.
2. those parts of a map, collectively, that represent surface waters.

hydrography

/ haɪˈdrɒɡrəfɪ /

noun

1. the study, surveying, and mapping of the oceans, seas, and rivers Compare hydrology
2. the oceans, seas, and rivers as represented on a chart

hydrography

/ hī-drŏg′rə-fē /

1. The scientific description and analysis of the physical characteristics of Earth's surface waters, including temperature, salinity, oxygen saturation, and the chemical content of water. Oceanography (the study of saltwater bodies) and limnology (the study of freshwater bodies) are subsets of hydrography.
2. The mapping of bodies of water.

Derived Forms

• hyˈdrographer, noun

Other Words From

• hy·drogra·pher noun
• hy·dro·graph·ic [hahy-dr, uh, -, graf, -ik], hydro·graphi·cal adjective
• hydro·graphi·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of hydrography¹

First recorded in 1550–60; hydro- ¹ + -graphy

Example Sentences

They used AI-generated headshots as profile pictures and posed as “news editors, a former aviation engineer, and an author of a scientific publication on hydrography.”

From The Verge

“Information on long-term past changes in Arctic Ocean hydrography are needed, and long overdue,” Dr. Ezat wrote in an email.

From New York Times

State boundaries and hydrography data sourced from Natural Earth.

From Washington Post

This contained instructions for observation in a dizzying range of new disciplines — a scientific A–Z from astronomy to zoology, by way of botany, geology, hydrography, magnetism, mineralogy, statistics and tides.

From Nature

This group developed a science designed to show the dynamic interdependence of regions with wildly diverse topography, hydrography and vegetation.

From Nature