EAE3022 - Hydrogeology - 2018

6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

Undergraduate - Unit

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Faculty

Science

Organisational Unit

School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment

Chief examiner(s)

Professor Ian Cartwright

Coordinator(s)

Professor Ian Cartwright

Unit guides

Offered

Clayton

  • Second semester 2018 (On-campus)

Prerequisites

6 points of second year EAE, ESC, or ATS units managed by the School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment

Prohibitions

ESC3190 and;

Permission by the unit coordinator is required for students in S6002 who are undertaking the Environmental Security (Science) specialisation.

Synopsis

Groundwater is a critical resource and an essential component of the natural environment. This unit addresses groundwater flow and the hydrological cycle, groundwater chemistry and the origins of solutes in water, use of isotopic tracers to understand hydrological processes, the interaction between groundwater and surface water, groundwater as a resource, and contamination of groundwater. These topics are essential for understanding and managing groundwater and surface water resources and for environmental management.

Outcomes

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. Describe the physical movement of water within the hydrological cycle;
  2. Determine the origins of solutes in water and how solute chemistry informs our understanding of hydrological processes;
  3. Discuss concepts of groundwater residence times and how these impact on the sustainable management of water resources;
  4. Explain the role of groundwater in maintaining river flows and sustaining ecosystems;
  5. Indicate the main threats to groundwater, including pollution, pumping, and climate or land use change and also be able to identify management and mitigation strategies.
  6. Interpret and integrate hydrological data.

Assessment

Examination (2 hours): 40%

Assessed practical work: 35%

Individual or group presentations/group work: 15%

Field trip assessment: 10%

Workload requirements

  • Two hours of lectures and one 3-hour practical per week
  • One 1-day fieldtrip on a weekend during semester

See also Unit timetable information

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study