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GEOG288 Rivers and Runoff

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.

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Details

Precipitation, runoff and floods; 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 GEOG288
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.

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Prerequisite
GEOG 101
Restriction
GEOG 394
Schedule C
Arts and Music, Science
Eligibility

A foundation earth science paper is also acceptable.

Contact
geography@otago.ac.nz
Teaching staff

Dr Sarah Mager

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, Information literacy.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.
Learning Outcomes

On completion of the paper students should be able to:

  • 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.

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Timetable

Semester 1

Location
Dunedin
Teaching method
This paper is taught On Campus
Learning management system
Blackboard

Lecture

Stream Days Times Weeks
Attend
L1 Thursday 10:00-10:50 9, 22

Practical

Stream Days Times Weeks
Attend one stream from
P1 Thursday 14:00-16:50 10, 12, 18, 20
P2 Friday 14:00-16:50 10, 12, 18, 20

Tutorial

Stream Days Times Weeks
Attend
T1 Thursday 10:00-10:50 10-13, 17-21