INTRODUCTION TO HYDROLOGY

GEOG 3511, Spring 2008

Lecture: TR 11:00-12:15   MCOL E186
Lab: R 2:00-3:50 pm   GUGG 6

This course will introduce you to processes of
  • Precipitation
  • Snowfall and snowmelt
  • Evapotranspiration
  • Infiltration and runoff
  • Streamflow

    • Instructors: John Pitlick
    Office: Guggenheim 315
    Office Hours: M 2-4 pm, T 2-4 pm
    E-mail:pitlick@colorado.edu

    Tony LaGreca
    Room: Guggenheim 312
    Office Hours: M W 1-3 pm
    E-mail: anthony.lagreca@Colorado.edu

    Overview:

    The picture above shows the Rees River, near Queenstown, New Zealand. Off in the distance, and mostly obscured by clouds, are the Southern Alps. This is an area of spectacular terrain and complex hydrology- some portions of the Southern Alps receive more than 10 meters of precipitation annually (for comparison, Boulder's mean annual precipitation is about 30 cm). Movement of warm, moist air masses against these mountains can trigger intense rainfall and rapid snowmelt, resulting in large floods.

    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:

    Hornberger et al. 1998, Elements of Physical Hydrology, Johns Hopkins University Press, 302 pp.

    Grading:

    Your course grade will be determined as follows:


    Exams cover material from the lectures, text, and readings.  Test questions are short answer and essay.  Under certain circumstances, you may take an exam early (e.g. a religious holiday).  However, you may not take an exam late- if you miss an exam, you must first provide a legitimate excuse, such as a doctor’s note.  I will then give you a score equal to your grade on the other midterm.  No make-up exams will be given, regardless of your personal situation (illness, death in the family, whatever).  If you cannot explain your reason for missing an exam, you will receive a score of zero for that exam. 

    Lab sessions will be held every Thursday.  Attendance in lab is mandatory, and please be on time.  We hope to take one or two field trips.  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, please inform us in advance.


    LECTURE and LAB SCHEDULE: Spring 2008

    Date

    Topics

    Reading
    15-17 Jan Water balance, global climate & water resources Chapt. 1, 2
    22-24 Jan "
    		 handout
    29-31 Jan Precipitation I: sources and measurement "
    5-7 Feb Precipitation II: spatial & temporal variability "
    12 Feb Effects of climate change on water resources assigned reading
    14 Feb MIDTERM EXAM 1
    19-21 Feb Snow I: formation and metamorphism handout
    26 Feb-6 Mar Snow II: snowmelt and energy balance "
    11-18 Mar Water in soils: infiltration and redistribution Chapt. 8
    20 Mar MIDTERM EXAM 2
    24-28 Mar Spring Break
    		 Chapt. 7
    1-3 Apr Evapotranspiration I: physical processes Chapt. 2
    8-10 Apr Evapotranspiration II: approaches for estimating "
    15-17 Apr Catchment hydrology and hillslope runoff Chapt. 9
    22-24 Apr Streams, networks, open channel flow Chapt. 4
    29 Apr- 1 May
    		 Floods and flood-frequency analysis Chapt. 5
    5 May
    		 FINAL EXAM

    University of Colorado-Boulder Policies
    If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please submit to me a letter from Disability Services so that your needs may be addressed.  Disability Services determines accommodations based on documented disabilities. Contact: 303-492-8671, Willard 322, http://www.Colorado.EDU/disabilityservices

    Campus policy regarding religious observances requires that faculty make every effort to reasonably and fairly deal with all students who, because of religious obligations, have conflicts with scheduled exams, assignments or required attendance.  See full details at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/fac_relig.html

    Students and faculty each have responsibility for maintaining an appropriate learning environment. Students who fail to adhere to such behavioral standards may be subject to discipline. Faculty have the responsibility to treat all students with dignity and respect, and to set reasonable limits on the manner in which opinions are expressed.  Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with differences of race, culture, religion, politics, sexual orientation, gender variance, and nationalities. See http://www.colorado.edu/policies/classbehavior.html

    The University of Colorado policies on Discrimination and Harassment, including Sexual Harassment, apply to all students, staff and faculty.  Any student, staff or faculty member who believes s/he has been the subject of discrimination or harassment based upon race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status should contact the Office of Discrimination and Harassment at 303-492-2127 or the Office of Judicial Affairs at 303-492-5550.  Information to assist individuals regarding discrimination or harassment can be obtained at  http://www.colorado.edu/odh

    All students of the University of Colorado at Boulder are responsible for knowing and adhering to the academic integrity policy.  Violations of this policy may include: cheating, plagiarism, aid of academic dishonesty, fabrication, and bribery.  All incidents of academic misconduct shall be reported to the Honor Code Council (honor@colorado.edu; 303-725-2273).  Students who are found to be in violation of the academic integrity policy will be subject to both academic sanctions from the faculty member and non-academic sanctions (including but not limited to probation, suspension, or expulsion).  Other information on the Honor Code can be found at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/honor.htm
    Examples of Exam Questions:

    Exam # 1

    1. Define the following terms (4 pts. ea.):
     a) relative humidity

     b) latent heat

     c) autocorrelation

     d) runoff ratio

    2. Fill-in the blanks in the following sentences (2 pts. each):
     a) the outgoing radiation emitted by the earth is called ________________________________.

     b) the majority of the worldís fresh water is held in  _________________________________.

     c) streamflow would be considered a _______________________________ random variable.

    3. Climate models predict that increasing CO2 concentrations will result in increasing average temperatures.
    a) How might this affect precipitation (4 pts.)?

    b) Whether changes in precipitation result in an increase or decrease in runoff depends very much on how changes in CO2 and temperature affect plants.  Explain (8 pts.):

    c) The Wigley-Jones model discussed in class and in your textbook suggests that runoff in semi-arid areas may increase significantly with potentially no change in precipitation.  Explain (6 pts.):


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