Module GEOG3797: RESEARCH FRONTIERS IN HYDROLOGY

Department: Geography

GEOG3797: RESEARCH FRONTIERS IN HYDROLOGY

Prerequisites

• Any Geography Level 2 Module

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• To enable students to learn about the new research ideas in hydrology. Learning about these new hypotheses, techniques and approaches will enable the students to gain greater insight into hydrological processes and extend their understanding. The module aims to show how these new advances in hydrological thinking and understanding are shaping the way in which we undertake hydrological science but also how they are changing the way in which catchments are managed. This will cover both hydrological processes and hydrologically driven processes such as diffuse pollution. How the operation of these processes will be impacted by predicted climatic change will be covered during the module.

Content

• The module will cover the current approaches to gaining hydrological understanding at the catchment / landscape scale. This will include the issues associated with using environmental simulation models to understand processes. The module will also cover recent work on the analysis of hydrological connectivity using isotope tracers and how this has lead to debate on the age and origin of water in flood hydrographs. The issues associated with diffuse pollution and how the catchment hydrological structure determines the sources of the pollution will be presented.

Learning Outcomes

• An overview of the theory and methods behind the new techniques and ideas in catchment hydrology
• In-depth exploration of a number of emerging hydrological questions
• A deeper understanding of hydrological processes
• Understanding of linkages between hydrology and associated processes such as diffuse pollution

• Engage with and synthesise hydrological understanding
• Gain awareness of new types of hydrological data and models such as oxygen isotope tracing

• Present logical written arguments
• Develop information analysis and synthesis skills

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• This is a specialised module that focuses on research frontiers in hydrology. The emphasis is upon integrating understanding of the material presented. Lecture-based material is appropriate as whilst innovative demonstration tools may be used in the lectures (e.g. software demonstrations) and beyond, the primary rationale for the module is developing in-depth synthesis and analysis skills amongst students doing the module with respect to exciting and emerging areas of hydrological science. The role of seminars is to allow students to explore in greater depth topics covered in the module.
• The formative assessment draws on a combination of data and readings and hence encourages the students to link together pieces of information to create a solution to the problem set.
• The examination enables students to analyse cutting-edge material relating to hydrological processes

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

1 x report (modelling of climate change impacts) - max 4 pages A4

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University