HWM-23306 Field Practical Hydrology, Water Quality and Meteorology

Course

Credits 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

MAQ-21806 Meteorology and Climate; SLM-20806 Water Quantity and Quality; MAQ-22806 Atmosphere-Vegetation-Soil Interactions.

Continuation courses:

HWM-20806 Hydrogeology; HWM-23806 Geophysical Fluid Mechanics; MAQ-32306 Boundary-layer Processes.

Contents:

The practical is based upon the water system description of catchments on different scales i.e. Berkel, Leerinkbeek and Hupselse beek. The description of the water system includes field observations of hydrological and meteorological variables and water quality. It involves the study of the relationship between water quantity, water quality, atmospheric and catchment characteristics (i.e. geology, topography, land use, drainage and rainfall-runoff characteristics). Research is on atmospheric transport, discharge characteristics, water retention and conservation, as well as transport and behaviour of pollutants and the identification of human impact on the total water system. Students will collect, verify, analyse, process and interpret components of the water and nutrient balance on different temporal and spatial scales. Quality and error analysis of observed data is an important part of this course.

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
- recognize, understand, analyse and describe the hydrological system (surface water, groundwater, soil water and atmosphere) of catchments on various scales;
- understand hydrological processes in surface water, ground water, soil water and atmosphere;
- evaluate and describe the hydrological system;
- analyse and describe the relationship between water quantity and quality of some small hydrological basins;
- design observational networks for meteorological/hydrological/water quality measurements in catchments;
- measure and interpret hydro(meteoro)logical and water quality data from catchments to calculate and to assess water and nutrient balances;
- calculate physical catchment properties and apply hydrological and meteorological modelling tools;
- evaluate catchment characteristics.

Activities:

- study of the practical guide and literature;
- field survey, at several spatial scales, of the water and meteorological system (Berkel, Leerinkbeek and Hupselse beek), incl. field observations and laboratory analysis.
- compilation of water quantity, water quality and meteorological data;
- analysis and interpretation of observations and research results.

Examination:

The examination of the course consists of three parts:
- presentation and discussion of the observational networks;
- preparation and defence scientific poster;
- written interim examination with open questions. This will consist of four separate disciplines: hydrology, hydrogeology, water quality and meteorology;
For the first element you have to obtain a GO, the second element counts for 20% and the written exam counts for 80 of the final exam;
For the written interim examination with open questions, for all disciplines a minimum of 4 (on the scale of 1-10) should be obtained. The average mark for the written exam should be at least 5.5 (on a scale of 1-10).

Literature:

Field practical guide;
Literature on the Berkel, Leerinkbeek and Hupselse beek catchments and literature on catchment studies.
Field practical guide available at the WUR-shop.