Overview
This course focuses on surface hydrology and aims to develop understanding of hydrological concepts, discharge measurement techniques and hydrological quantities.
The course is built around exploration and understanding of the hydrological cycle and its various sub-components. Data from New Zealand, Antarctica and Chile will be used to illustrate lecture material.
The lecture programme includes the properties of water, atmospheric processes, precipitation measurement, evaporation and transpiration, river behaviour, discharge measurement and practical applications of hydrological understanding.
The laboratory programme will include measurement of flow and discharge in the filed using a variety of techniques, understanding extreme values, understanding hydrographs and an introduction to the use of statistical techniques in hydrology.
The emphasis of the paper is on applied hydrology and the preparation of students for careers in regional government and consulting.
Details
Precipitation, runoff and floods; a project and laboratories as required.
This paper forms an introduction to the hydrological cycle and the hydrology of rivers. The focus is on the development of practical skills for river discharge measurement.
This course should appeal to people seeking a career in water resource management.
| Paper title | Rivers and Runoff |
|---|---|
| Paper code | GEOG394 |
| Subject | Geography |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Semester 1 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees (NZD) | $1,141.35 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- 54 GEOG points
- Restriction
- GEOG 288
- Schedule C
- Arts and Music, Science
- Eligibility
A foundation earth science paper is also acceptable.
- Contact
- More information link
- View further information about GEOG 394
- Teaching staff
- Paper Structure
The lecture programme includes the properties of water, atmospheric processes, precipitation measurement, evaporation and transpiration, river behaviour, discharge measurement, and practical applications of hydrological understanding.
The laboratory programme will include measurement of flow and discharge in the field using a variety of statistical techniques in hydrology.Course assessment favours collaborative learning through hands-on activities in the laboratory; and is supplemented by take-home quizzes that draw on elements of problem-based learning.
- Teaching Arrangements
- The laboratory programme is the heart of this course. The laboratories are designed to introduce and develop the skills required to undertake discharge gauging of rivers and the processing of discharge data.
- Textbooks
Textbook:
Davie. T., and Quinn, N. 2019. Fundamentals of Hydrology. 3rd Edition. Routledge.
Recommended Reading:
Dingman, S.L. 2009. Fluvial Hydraulics. 1st Edition, Oxford University Press.
Herschy, R.W. 2009. Streamflow Measurement. 3rd Edition, Taylor & Francis.
Knighton, D. 1998. Fluvial forms and Processes: a new perspective. 2nd Edition. Hodder.
Wohl, E. 2019. Rivers in the landscape. 2nd Edition. Wiley.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Critical thinking, Environmental literacy, Research.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
On completion of the paper students should:
- Acquire an understanding of the hydrological cycle
- Understand the physics behind different field techniques
- Learn how to measure streamflow and decide which method is suitable for different conditions
- Apply theoretical understanding to real scenarios
- Gain practical experience sampling stream flow
- Gain analytical experience handling hydrological data.
