GEOLOGY 350: HYDROGEOLOGY
SPRING 2006
Instructor Dr.
Ben Laabs; Nobel
131; x7442; Email, blaabs@gustavus.edu;
Office Hours:
Lecture
Lab
Textbook Fetter, C.W., 2001, Applied Hydrogeology, 4th
Edition.
Prerequisites GEO-111, MCS-121 or equivalents
Hydrogeology
is the study of the interaction of geologic materials with water. Geology 350 focuses on the ground water component
of the hydrologic cycle, characteristics of aquifers, and applications of
hydrogeology to current issues of water rights and water quality. Lab exercises and problem sets involve
determining physical properties of aquifers through graphical and mathematical
techniques, characterization of ground-water flow in watersheds, geologic
studies of
By
the end of the semester, you should have a fundamental understanding of Earth’s
hydrologic cycle and the importance of ground-water movement within this
system. Lab exercises will help you
enhance your ability to view watersheds in three dimensions and understand how
topography and sub-surface stratigraphy influence
ground-water flow on the local and regional scale. You should be able to recognize and perform a
variety of techniques used for determining physical properties of aquifers, and
utilize such properties to characterize ground-water flow.
Water
is the most consumed and most vital natural resource of our planet; thus, it is
not surprising that a vast number of working geoscientists are hydrogeologists. A hydrogeologist focuses in the interrelationship of water
and earth materials, often in the context of the physical movement or the
chemistry of ground water, or both. This
requires knowledge of geology, physics (and therefore mathematics), chemistry,
statistics, and data analysis. Computer
programming experience is also useful.
If you wish to become a professional hydrogeologist,
you will need to develop your skills beyond this course. Although experienced-based knowledge can be
gained through an internship or entry-level work with an engineering firm or
government agency, pursuing a master’s degree in hydrogeology will allow you to
enhance your knowledge of other sciences and improve your writing skills. If you wish to pursue research in
hydrogeology, post-graduate education is essential. If you would like more information on becoming
a professional hydrogeologist, please feel free to
stop by my office to talk about career and/or research options.
Given
the small size of this class, I expect that the lecture and lab environments
will be informal but learning intensive.
If you cannot attend a lecture or lab, please let me know (email:
blaabs@gustavus.edu or phone: x7442).
During lectures, ask questions at any time and TAKE NOTES. Although many lectures will be presented and
available to you in PowerPoint, I will only use it for illustrations and
outlines. Take notes, read the textbook,
and ask questions to obtain all the information you need to be successful in
this course.
Lectures: Be prepared by showing up on
time, with a positive attitude and current on reading assignments.
Labs: During labs, there will be
plenty of time for you to ask questions on lecture material; I encourage you to
take advantage of this. Some lab
sessions can be used as “work periods” for working on labs and problem sets, so
I encourage you to attend all lab sessions to work efficiently on your
assignments and to ask questions. BRING
A CALCULATOR. Due dates for lab
assignments and problem sets are firm and will be listed at the top of each
assignment. Points will be deducted for
lateness unless you contact me prior to the due date. You will notice below that labs are worth a
significant portion of your final grade; in fact, if you fail the lab portion, you will fail the course! This policy supercedes the grading scheme below.
Exams: There are two semester
exams. They will cover material
presented in lectures and reading assignments.
The final exam is cumulative, but will focus on material covered after
the second exam. Exam questions will
consist of problems, short answer and multiple-choice questions. BRING A CALCULATOR.
Field Trip: We will visit a set of
monitoring wells in 7-Mile Creek Park during one or two lab sessions in April
to measure water levels and study the geology of the watershed.
Outside
Grading: Your final grade will be
determined by:
Two semester exams: 30% (15% each)
Final exam: 25%
Labs and problem sets: 45%
Again,
note that your performance on labs and problem sets is crucial to your success
in this course. Accordingly, I encourage
you to ask questions!
CHECK
THIS URL FOR FREQUENT UPDATES: http://homepages.gac.edu/~blaabs/hydro_06/syllabus.htm
|
DATE |
LECTURE/LAB |
FETTER and/or JOURNAL |
|
Feb
6 |
|
|
|
Feb
8 |
Hydrologic
cycle and water budgets LAB
1: Dimension analysis and water budget |
Chapter
1 (p. 1-11, 16-22), Chapter 2 (p. 24-42) |
|
Feb
10 |
|
|
|
|
Problem set 1: Chapters 1
and 2 |
|
|
|
|
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Feb
13 |
Chapter
3 (p. 66-81) |
|
|
Feb
15 |
Porosity
and specific yield (lecture given in lab) Permeability
(“Geology” in Hydrogeology) LAB
2: Sediment classification, porosity |
|
|
Feb
17 |
No lecture (work on lab 2
and problem set) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Feb
20 |
Chapter
3 (p. 81-93) |
|
|
Feb
22 |
Darcy’s
law, hydraulic conductivity, aquifer types and storage Measuring
conductivity of materials LAB
3: Hydraulic conductivity of materials |
|
|
Feb
24 |
No lecture (work on lab 3
and problem set) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Feb
27 |
No lecture (work on lab 3
and problem set) |
|
|
Mar
1 |
LAB
4: Visualizing ground water flow Problem set 2: Chapters 3
and 4 |
Chapter
3 (p. 93-98) |
|
Mar
3 |
Chapter
3 (p. 100-106, 98-99, 107-108) |
|
|
|
|
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Mar
6 |
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Mar
8 |
EXAM 1 LAB
5: The |
|
|
Mar
10 |
Exam
review, Hydraulic head in terms of energy (see ppt
on 3/15) |
Chapter
4 (p. 113-118) |
|
|
|
|
|
Mar
13 |
Snow
day |
|
|
Mar
15 |
Hydraulic
head in terms of energy LAB
6: The |
Chapter
4 (p. 121-125) |
|
Mar
17 |
Chapter
4 (p. 125-131) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mar
20 |
Ground
water flow equations (see 3/17 ppt) |
Chapter
4 (p. 138-146) |
|
Mar
22 |
Ground
water flow solutions: flow nets LAB
7: Flow nets |
Chapter
4 (p. 132-138) |
|
Mar
24 |
Chapter
5 (p. 150-153, 166-169) |
|
|
|
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|
SPRING BREAK (March 25 – April 2) |
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|
|
|
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Apr
3 |
Chapter
5 (p. 153-156, 169-173) |
|
|
Apr
5 |
Aquifer
tests: Theis
type curve, Cooper-Jacob, LAB 8: Pump tests – case studies |
Chapter
5 (p. 173-176, 210-213) |
|
Apr
7 |
Chapter
5 (p. 208-209) |
|
|
|
Problem set 3: Chapters 5
and 7 |
|
|
|
|
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Apr
10 |
Chapter
5 (p. 190-205) |
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Apr
12 |
LAB
9: Slug tests – case studies |
|
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Apr
14 |
NO
LECTURE |
|
|
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Apr
17 |
NO
LECTURE |
|
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Apr
19 |
LAB
10: The 7-Mile Creek Watershed (FIELD TRIP) |
Chapter
7 (p. 236-244, 248-278) |
|
Apr
21 |
Regional
ground water flow (same ppt as 4/19) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Apr
24 |
EXAM 2 |
|
|
Apr
26 |
Hydrostratigraphy of SE Minnesota LAB
11: The |
Journal
reading |
|
Apr
28 |
No
lecture |
Journal
reading |
|
|
|
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May
1 |
|
|
|
May
3 |
LAB
12: Water chemistry |
Chapter
9 (p. 346-361, p. 373-377) |
|
May
5 |
Water
chemistry (same ppt as 5/3) |
|
|
|
|
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May
8 |
Chapter
10 (p. 415-426) |
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May
10 |
Contamination No
Lab |
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May
12 |
No
Lecture |
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Problem set 4: Chapter 13 |
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May
15 |
Chapter
13 (p. 513-533) |
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May
17 |
Models
and Review |
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FINAL EXAM: Monday, May 22nd, 24-hour take home exam |
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