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Foundations of Physical Hydrology: |
Course
Material: b) Demo material for developing instructional technology.) c) Some resource material : |
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Interaction Among the Watershed Elements |
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Geological Sciences/Environmental Studies 58 |
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Synopsis: Water, its
availability and its unique physical properties, is a partner with solar
radiation among the primary agents that drive weather and climate. The
cycling of water through the Earth's environment is the yin and yang of water
− a benefactor sustaining humankind's food supplies, facilitating
transportation and producing power, while conversely an adversary responsible
for droughts, floods, wildfires and landslides. If the climate is changing,
then, without doubt, water, being the most abundant greenhouse gas −
far more so than the nearest candidate, CO2 − will be a principal
player in the atmosphere, land processes, in the oceans and rivers,
and in the soil. But, how this role will be played out remains elusive to
science; we first need to understand the "normalcy" of water
processes. We need to understand the normal behavior of water − even as
we need to understand what are normal extreme events. This course is a
qualitative/semi-quantitative introduction to the underlying causes of
floods, droughts, wildfires, and hurricanes in the context of environmental
processes globally driven by the unique character of water, and by its
regional abundance or scarcity. We explore the foundations for understanding
the physical mechanisms by which water is transported throughout a hydrologic
system, emphasizing the fundamental inter-coupling of atmospheric, surface,
soil and ground water. While providing background for future studies, the
course is primarily designed to enable informed citizens to thoughtfully
critique and comment on fundamental issues of public policy. A pre-college
math and physics background is expected. |
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This course is primarily
designed to be a forum in which humanities and science students might explore
topics of common interest. |
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Provisional Topics: PART Week 1: Partitioning
of Water in the Global Environment: The Hydrologic Cycle Relative
Distribution of Water in the Earth's Environment Watersheds: Fundamental
units of hydrology Week 2 Mass Balance in
the Water Cycle: Summary of Surface & Subsurface Flow Generation PART II. WATERSHED
DYNAMICS: INTERACTION AMONG THE COMPONENTS Week 3 Precipitation
Evapotranspiration Week 4 Infiltration,
Depression Storage & Overland Flow Wetlands Week 5 & 6
Streamflow Generation; Floods PART III. WATER IN THE
SUBSURFACE Week 7 & 8
Hydrologic nature of the geologic environment Fundamental Concepts of
Ground-Water Flow Week 9 Visualizing
flow patterns in the subsurface Week 10 Physical
Processes in Aquifers Subsurface flow to a discharging (recharging) well Well
tests and monitoring wells Regional Flow Patterns Week 11 & 12 Water
Quality Watershed Pollution & Contaminant Migration Overview of water
moving through the environment |
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An alpine glacial lake. |
Alpine conifers. |
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St. Mary's Glacier. |
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Spring runoff in the Blackstone. |
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