How hydrosystems work

This course is divided into two parts, one covering surface water and atmospheric water, and the other covering groundwater. This course builds on the Water Cycle course from Semester 1 and lays the essential foundations for the specific courses on hydrodynamics and physical hydrology that will be taught in Semester 2. It is therefore a transitional course between fundamental knowledge of the water cycle and specific knowledge of the study and characterization of surface and groundwater resources.

Theoretical courses combined with integrated tutorials are supplemented by practical work in the classroom on computers and hydrogeological maps.

The aim of this module is to teach the basics of hydrology and hydrogeology necessary for training in water-related professions. This module will be taught through lectures and practical work. Half of the module will focus on the basic concepts of hydrology (hydrological response of watersheds, rainfall treatment—IDF curves, Montana coefficients—infiltration, decomposition of flood hydrographs, estimation of peak flows, concept of production function and transfer function), while the other half will cover the basic concepts of hydrogeology (unconfined and confined aquifers, hydraulic head, hydrodynamic parameters, piezometric maps, pumping tests, different types of geological reservoirs).

Hourly volumes:

            CM: 12

            TD: 5

            TP: 10

            Land: 0

Required prerequisites:

Have completed the "Water Cycle and Watershed" course in S1 or have equivalent knowledge to this course.

Two assessments are offered in this course:

• Continuous assessment accounts for 40% of the final grade and focuses primarily on understanding the course content and exercises included in the course.
• A "Final" exam accounting for 60% of the final grade, covering the entire course.