INTRODUCTION TO HYDROLOGY
Geography 3511

Spring 1997 Outline and Syllabus

Instructor: Nel Caine

Phone: 492-8642

This course is intended to be an introduction to hydrologic science, emphasizing surface processes and watershed responses. It treats natural hydrologic conditions and processes and extends this to the responses associated with changed surface conditions and landuse. As with most of the classical work in hydrology, the approach taken here is empirical and semi-quantitative, with an emphasis on models for streamflow responses at the watershed level. The water budget and the drainage basin are two import ant concepts in this.

Four Objectives:

  1. To define the nature of the hydrologic cascade and the ways in which its components are linked.
  2. To define some basic models for hydrologic processes at and near to the ground surface, including those which define flow responses.
  3. To evaluate the nature and limits of observational data and the implications these limits have for model application.
  4. To test by practical work some of the ideas and concepts that govern our knowledge of hydrologic science.

Office Hours:


Room: 213 Rl#1
Phone: 492-5053

Schedule

Mon, Wed, & Fri 09:00 - 09:50

This is arranged as 14 weekly units, for 12 of which you will be provided with a laboratory assignment. These assignments are keyed to the topic of classroom work for that week and are intended to reinforce and emphasize the important concepts of the week's work. Needless to say, things may not stay on such a neat schedule!

The second meeting on Friday (14:00 - 16:50) will be used as a practical session for work on weekly laboratory and field assignments etc.

DATE TOPIC
Jan13-17 Background, Orientation, Needs of this course.
22-24*Hydrologic Models, the hydrologic cycle and water budgets.
27-31*Frequency - Intensity - Duration analysis.
Feb3-7*Precipitation Processes and Measurement.
10 - 14*Snow on the Ground, Snow Hydrology in the western U.S.A.
17-21*Snowmelt and Water Yield from snowpacks.
24-28*Infiltration and Soil Moisture.
Mar3-7Review, Mid-term Test, Recovery.
10-14*Groundwater Hydrology: processes and flows.
17-21*Evaporation and Transpiration.
31-Apr 4*Hillslope Hydrology & Streamflow.
Apr7-11*Streamflow Processes and Measurement.
14-18*Empirical Streamflow Models.
21-25*Hydrograph Analysis and Flood Flow Estimation.
28-30Flow Routing and Control
May2-5Review Time etc.
* An assignment will be provided on these 12 topics. You will be required to complete at least 11 of these.

Text Materials

In addition to the text for the course (Dunne & Leopold: Water in Environmental Planning), I would like you to be aware of the following:

The first of these is useful for its treatment of classical procedures of hydrologic analysis, some of which you will be working with in assignments. Copies of these two texts, which are both out-of-print, will be available on reserve in Earth Sciences Library.

You should also be aware of other sources, especially if you plan to write a term paper as an alternative to the final examination. The following journals are important ones dedicated to the field of physical hydrology:

Other journals include occasional papers on hydrology or are devoted to work on water resources.

Grades

Three items will go into the computation of your course grade:

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