The course is an introduction to the science of hydrology and to the role of water as a resource, a hazard, and an integral component of the Earth’s climatic, biological, and geological systems. The course looks into the nature and occurrences of ground and surface water systems; exploration and extraction methods; assessment of water quality and rehabilitation of contaminated water systems. The course puts emphasis on precipitation analysis, determination of evaporation and infiltration quantities and calculation of surface runoff. It studies the behavior and properties of water in the geologic environment with emphasis on subsurface water, including studies of flow patterns, chemistry, behavior in various geologic materials, and pollution problems. It reviews the hydrogeologic cycle, porosity and permeability of aquifers, aquifer testing, groundwater flow and water pollution. It also incorporates studies on land surface hydrology, transport of water, vapor, and heat in soils and near-surface atmosphere, and the effects of vegetation, topography, and water table on runoff, evapotranspiration, and recharge. The quantitative aspects of groundwater hydrogeology in the development of the equations governing the flow of water in aquifers, the identification of appropriate initial and boundary conditions, and the methods of groundwater monitoring and field techniques are all included in the course.
- Teacher: Yvonne Olayvar