SCGEO2106 Hydrology Unit Description

UNIT DESCRIPTION

ORGANISATION

(Unit co-ordinator is the first named staff member)

Note:  Peter is at the University on Fridays only, but available via email at other times.  Tutorial assistance from Andrew & Rhys can be arranged for other times on request.

OBJECTIVES:

This unit is a core unit in the Geology stream of the Bachelor of Applied Science.

Other students may elect this unit to provide a background for a career in the environmental science or environmental engineering industries.  On completion of this unit the student will be able to:

Knowledge

• Demonstrate an understanding of the terms, concepts and principles of hydrology. 
• Understand the broader role of water within our environment, our society and economy. 
• Comprehend the hydrological cycle through conceptual models at the global, regional, and local scales. 
• Be aware of measurement techniques used in analysis of the hydrological cycle. 
• Recognise legislative environments. 

Skills

• Develop scientific investigation, data analysis and professional reporting skills. 
• Develop technical problem-solving skills. 
• Theorise and create conceptual and numerical hydrogeological models. 
• Presentation skills in technical frameworks. 

Values/Attitudes

• Appreciate the role and importance of water in the Earth's environments and its management for sustaining environmental, economic and social values.
• Develop and awareness of the value of water resources to the community. 
• Conduct of professionals and professional standards. 

CONTENT

• Role of water on earth, water resources and society
• Value of water, uses for water, legislative framework
• Climate, earth systems, hydrologic cycle
• Meteorology, precipitation and evapotranspiration
• Hydropedology, soil water movement, unsaturated zone, infiltration
• Surface hydrology, river and streams, runoff, floods, storage
• Hydrogeology, groundwater, groundwater flow systems, aquifers, aquifer characteristics and parameters, bore construction, aquifer testing
• Hydroecology, groundwater - surface water interactions, groundwater dependent ecosystems
• Water supply, quality and demand issues, extraction, irrigation, urban use
• Water contamination and rehabilitation
• Geotechnical aspects of groundwater, mine dewatering, other issues

LEARNING TASKS AND ASSESSMENT

Academic standards

Hydrology is a science.  Our understanding of hydrology is developed by adopting the scientific method whereby data is collected by investigation or observation and used to formulate and test hypotheses.  It depends on scientists being objective and sharing all their data, methods and ideas with their peers, by publishing their findings.  This allows other scientists to further analyse and build on this body of knowledge by which we learn about hydrology.  Professional scientists must always acknowledge their sources. 

Plagiarism is the presentation of the expressed thought or work of another person as though it is one’s own without properly acknowledging that person.  The University’s Statute 6.1 Student Discipline and Regulation 6.1.1 Student Discipline make it clear that plagiarising is a breach of student discipline and may incur a range of penalties. 

The following information on plagiarism is worth reading:

http://www.ballarat.edu.au/ard/business/pg_handbook/ch01s03s06.shtml

A software package for the prevention and detection of plagiarism can be found at:

http://www.ballarat.edu.au/lews/turnitin/index.shtml

Guidelines for the presentation of academic work can be found at:

http://www.ballarat.edu.au/aasp/student/learning_support/generalguide/

Task:  PRACTICAL  ASSIGNMENTS

Statement of purpose:

• To equip students with the ability to solve practical problems in hydrology. 
• To develop the skills at finding and critically evaluating hydrological data for an area.  
• To develop skills in properly reporting hydrological problems, especially in relation to hydrological units and accuracy of measurement.
• To understand and appreciate the limitations of the metrics used in hydrology.

Description of what students are to do:

• Complete four assignments handed out through the semester and submit these by the due date.
• Assignments will require mathematical problem solving, graphical solutions and the ability to conceptualise hydrological principles.
• Write and submit a report which includes the logic, methods, workings and results of the assignment problems.

Statement of requirements to complete task:

• Typed, professionally presented report which meets requirements of the University's academic standards.
• Present the report by the due date. 

Assessment criteria

• Correct or appropriate content, method and results.
• Professional presentation, quality of analysis and demonstrated scientific understanding.
• Late submission without extension will be penalised.

Task:  SEMESTER EXAM

Statement of purpose:

• To assess the student's knowledge and understanding of the hydrology unit content. 

Description of what students are to do:

• Sit a written examination on the entire content of the unit. 

Statement of requirements to complete task:

• Complete a 2-hour examination at the end of semester. 

Assessment criteria

• Correct answers, demonstration of understanding of concepts and principles. 
• A minimum of 50% grade in this task is required to pass the hydrology unit. 

Task:  FIELD TRIP REPORTS

Statement of purpose:

• Experience the field procedures for measurement of surface-water and groundwater parameters, giving practical experience to hydrological investigations. 

Description of what students are to do:

• Practical field work in observation, measurement and testing of surface and groundwater. 

Statement of requirements to complete task:

• Attend field trip.

• Present a typed, professionally report as described on field trip assessment description including observations, calculations and interpretation of test data.

Assessment criteria

• Attendance, participation, adequate working and correctness of answer, professional presentation of submitted work.  Diagrams and photos are encouraged.

• Late submission without extension will be penalised.

Task:  RESEARCH ESSAY

Statement of purpose:

• To develop the skills at finding and critically evaluating hydrological data and scientific literature for a hydrological topic.

• Develop independent thought, technical argument structures, presentation skills and concise report writing skills

Description of what students are to do:

• Select a research topic from the list presented and search the scientific literature related to that topic. 

• Write an essay of between 2000 to 3000 words that reviews the literature and summarises the current state-of-knowledge in the chosen topic. 

• As a guide, the essay should:

• introduce the topic with an overview of its relevance or importance to hydrological science (problem definition),

• review at least five key scientific papers by summarising the research question, methods, results and findings of each, and

• draw conclusions regarding the current state-of-knowledge of the topic, including the current limitations to knowledge.

Statement of requirements to complete task:

• Review scientific papers published in peer-reviewed international journals. 

• Prepare and submit a essay of 2000 to 3000 words.  The key scientific papers used in the essay should be appended.

Assessment criteria

• Presentation, content and quality of the literature review.

• Reference to scientific papers published in high-quality, peer-reviewed, international journals will be rewarded. 

• Late submission without extension will be penalised.

Submission of work on time

In their professions, scientists are often required to present their work.  Their reports frequently have a deadline for submission, regardless of whether they are perfectly completed or not.  It would be unacceptable for a scientist to appear as an expert witness in a legal case, or before a Government Enquiry, or a Corporation Board without having completed his/her report on time.  The submission of work by the due date is important for your future careers as professionals.

UNIT WEBSITE & FACEBOOK GROUP

This website will contain lecture notes, lecture presentations, and assignments.  There will be weekly updates of other current information.

http://www.dahlhaus.com.au/cb_pages/education.php

A Facebook group has been established called Hydrology @ UB.  Students are encouraged to use this site as a discussion forum & to post questions.  The unit tutors will check in regularly post useful hints and other material that all students can access.

REFERENCES

Highly recommended

• Fetter, CW (2001) Applied Hydrogeology.  Merrill Publishing Company
• Ward, AD & Trimble (2004) Environmental Hydrology 2^nd edition.  Lewis Publishers
• Ladson, Anthony (2008)Hydrology: an Australian introduction.  South Melbourne, Vic. : Oxford University Press
• Heath, R.C. (1989) Basic Ground-Water Hydrology.  USGS Geological Water-Supply Paper 2220 (available on unit website as electronic copy)

Also very useful:

• Frieze, R.A. & Cherry, J.A. (1979) - Groundwater. Prentice-Hall Inc.
• Domenico P.A. & Schwartz F.W. (1990) - Physical and chemical hydrogeology.  Wiley.
• Price, Michael (1996) - Introducing groundwater.  Nelson Thomes publishers.
• Davie, Tim (2003) – Fundamentals of Hydrology.  Routledge publishers.

Check Google books for these.  http://books.google.com.au/books

Journals:

• Hydrogeology Journal
• Groundwater
• Journal of Hydrology
• Natural Resource Management
• Australian Journal of Soil Research
• Australian Journal of Earth Sciences
• Australian Journal of Agricultural Research
• Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture
• Australian Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
• Water Resources Research
• Environmental Management
• Hydrology and Earth System Sciences
• Hydrological Processes
• Agricultural Water Management
• Australian Meteorological Magazine
• Soil Science

Check the unit website for more resources and links to information and knowledge