Overview:

The problems we face here in Colorado are related more to a lack of precipitation. The average statewide precipitation in Colorado is about 45 cm, but that average is skewed because most of the precipitation falls as snow in the mountains. Snow is thus very important in Colorado, both as a basis for recreation and as a source of water. However, our ability to measure snow depth and snow cover in Colorado's mountains is still quite limited, and we are not yet to the point where we can forecast the timing or volume of snowmelt runoff very accurately. Drought conditions in Colorado in the last several years have thus pushed our water supply systems to the limit, and there is continuing debate as to how we will manage these systems in the future.

This course is about learning both the concepts and physical principles of water flow as well as the techniques that can be used to solve hydrologic problems. In practice, hydrologists have to quantify rates at which water is exchanged between the atmosphere, the ground, and the ocean, and this often involves manipulating data and solving sets of equations. It's fairly easy to lose sight of the conceptual part of the problem once you focus on techniques. Thus, one of the goals of this course is to give you a balanced view of hydrology- one that includes a description of the physical processes PLUS a coherent presentation of the theories and techniques that are used in practice. The class is structured around the hydrologic cycle, which you can picture as a set of linked processes that cycle water between the ocean, atmosphere, and land surface. We will examine the individual components of the hydrologic cycle, as well as interactions between these components.

Textbook:

Grading:

Midterm Exams = 40 % (scheduled for Oct. 1, Nov 12)

Final Exam = 30 % (scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 17)

Lab Assignments = 30 %

Exams will cover material from lectures and lab assignments. Test questions will be short answer with some calculations. No make-up exams will be given. If you miss a midterm exam and have a legitimate excuse, I will give you a score equal to your grade on the other midterm. If you cannot explain your absence, you will get a score of zero.

Lab:

Attendance in lab is mandatory, and similar rules apply: If you miss a lab without discussing it with us in advance, then you will receive a score of zero for that lab. If a problem arises and you cannot attend a particular lab, then you need to inform us in advance.

Examples of Exam Questions:

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