Fresh water is perhaps the world’s most critical resource. Giant engineering projects are built to control water distribution, wars and legal battles are fought over who controls water, and the problems will only get worse as populations grow. This course is a broad survey of hydrology, the study of the distribution, movement, and quality of water. Students will be expected to perform quantitative analysis of water budgets and movements through Earth systems including rivers, lakes, artificial reservoirs, and groundwater. The focus will be on practical applications and people’s access to safe water. This course will require several field trips within and outside of normal class time.
Learning Outcomes:
Understand how water moves through Earth systems, including the atmosphere, streams, lakes, and groundwater
Learn how to estimate the water budget for a drainage basin
Learn how to construct stream hydrographs
Learn to use basic hydrologic numerical modeling to predict water supply and forecast flood hazards
Learn how water supply issues affect humans
Learn about general water quality and contamination issues
Develop an understanding of groundwater contaminant migration
Delivery Method: Fully in-person
Prerequisites:
Prior coursework in Earth Science required; see Tim Schroeder (tschroeder@bennington.edu) for registration.
Course Level: 4000-level
Credits: 4
M/Th 10:00AM - 11:50AM (Full-term)
Maximum Enrollment: 14
Course Frequency: Every 2-3 years
Categories: 4000 , All courses , Earth Science , Environment , Four Credit , Fully In-Person
Tags: data analysis , earth , environment , quantitative , STEM , water