ATM344 Global Hydrology (2020-2023)

2. Course code

ATM344

Aikaisemmat leikkaavat opintojaksot 53574 Globaali hydrologia, 5 op

3. Course status: optional

-Which degree programme is responsible for the course?
Master's Programme in Atmospheric Sciences

-Which module does the course belong to?
ATM300 Advanced Studies in Atmospheric Sciences (optional for Study Track in Geophysics of the Hydrosphere)

-Is the course available to students from other degree programmes?
Yes

4. Course level (first-, second-, third-cycle/EQF levels 6, 7 and 8)

Master’s level, degree programmes in medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine = secondcycle
degree/EQF level 7
Doctoral level = third-cycle (doctoral) degree/EQF level 8

-Does the course belong to basic, intermediate or advanced studies (cf. Government Decree
on University Degrees)?
Advanced studies

5. Recommended time/stage of studies for completion

-The recommended time for completion may be, e.g., after certain relevant courses have
been completed. Basic course in hydrology (Hydrologic peruskurssi) needed.

6. Term/teaching period when the course will be offered

The course is offered every second year (even years) during the spring term, third period.

7. Scope of the course in credits

5 cr

8. Teacher coordinating the course

Ekaterina Ezhova

9. Course learning outcomes

The course introduces the main methods of physical hydrology with a focus on how these methods can be applied to different systems based on examples.

Upon completing of the course, the student will be able to

- explain the concept of hydrological cycle;

- construct water budget for different systems; 

- use conventional models to estimate precipitation and evaporation based on available measurements;

- explain what controls depth of the river and how the flow in the river changes based on the equations of open channel hydraulics;

- describe movement of flood waves and perform flood routing in the rivers;

- describe water motion in saturated and unsaturated soils;

- explain the main principles of ecosystem and urban hydrology;

- discuss current challenges in water resources distribution and management under conditions of changing climate.

The student will learn to critically percept current knowledge on hydrology, understand advantages and shortcomings of different methods that were used to describe a particular system.

10. Course completion methods

The course consists of lectures and exercise sessions. To complete the course, the student must attend at least 30% of the exercise sessions, write a mid-term test and make a presentation about a hydrological system of his/her choice.

11. Prerequisites

Basic course in hydrology

12. Recommended optional studies

Basic course in meteorology.

13. Course content

1. Introduction – Global hydrological cycle.
2. Precipitation/Evaporation
3. Open channel hydraulics.
4. Catchment hydrology. Streams and Floods.
5. Groundwater hydraulics and hydrology.
6. Water in the unsaturated zone.
7. Urban hydrology.
8. Introduction to comparative hydrology.
9. Water, climate, energy and food.

14. Recommended and required literature

Required literature:

• Hornberger et al. (2014) Elements of Physical Hydrology. Second edition.
• Falkenmark and Chapman (1989) Comparative hydrology.

Recommended literature:

• Lawrence Dingman, S. (1994) Physical hydrology.

15. Activities and teaching methods in support of learning

Lectures and exercise sessions (including classical ‘pen and paper’ and one numerical exercise session), making a presentation about one of the hydrological systems. The student can get ‘a bonus’ points to the grade actively participating in the lectures.

16. Assessment practices and criteria, grading scale

Mid-term test and presentation. Grading 1-5.

17. Teaching language

English