ENV 3000 - ENVIRONMENTAL HYDROLOGY

credits: 4.0
Seventy one percent of the Earth’s surface is covered in water. Humans are 60% water. All living things use water in some way. This course will investigate water in the atmosphere, earth’s surface (surface water), in the crust (groundwater), in the ocean, and most importantly its interaction with humans and environments (such as water in lava!). Students will use an integrative approach that will introduce big picture concepts from earth and environmental science as well as biology, chemistry, and physics to understand environmental problems related to water. We will use models to understand the global, regional, and local water balance and hands on activities to describe and interpret water movement through the three other spheres on earth (biosphere, lithosphere, atmosphere). Objectives: A) Describe connected environmental system and how the properties of fluids, porous media, and energy influence water flow; B) Apply hydrologic and natural science principles to environmental issues in connected systems; C) Investigate real world environmental issues by reviewing scientific journal articles and current news reports; D) Analyze real scientific data to assess the impact of an environmental issue in your chosen watershed and its connected coastal zone; E) Develop a hydrologic model framework to solve environmental water-related problems. Method of Instruction: A combination of lectures, small/large group discussions, lab activities, group projects, and hands-on modeling, where appropriate, will be used. Method of Evaluation: Laboratory, Exams, Participation, and Individual Project. The course has a total of 1000 points, and final grades will be determined based on the total number of points accumulated according to the distribution: Participation includes attendance, in-class discussion, and laboratory collaboration. Those students who are in class and engage with their classmates and the instructor with questions, class discussions, or group work will receive full credit for participation. Lab Fee: $125.00.

Prerequisite(s): ENV 2050 - ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY and MAT 1030 - COLLEGE ALGEBRA (or) MAT 1092 - PRE-CALCULUS II and ENV 2050 - ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY (or) MAT 2010 - CALCULUS I and ENV 2050 - ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY (or) MAT 2020 - CALCULUS II and ENV 2050 - ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY (or) ENV 2050 - ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY and MAT 1930 - IMMERSION COLLEGE ALGEBRA (or) GEO 2050 - ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY and MAT 1030 - COLLEGE ALGEBRA (or) GEO 2050 - ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY and MAT 1092 - PRE-CALCULUS II (or) GEO 2050 - ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY and MAT 2010 - CALCULUS I (or) GEO 2050 - ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY and MAT 2020 - CALCULUS II (or) GEO 2050 - ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY and MAT 1930 - IMMERSION COLLEGE ALGEBRA (or) GEO 2050 - ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY and MAT 1030 - COLLEGE ALGEBRA