Groundwater Hydrology

Total Hours in Course81

Number of hours for lectures16

Number of hours for seminars and practical classes8

Number of hours for laboratory classes8

Independent study hours49

Date of course confirmation20.02.2013

Responsible UnitInstutute of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Engineering

Course developer

Ainavu arhitektūras un vides inženierijas institūts

Artūrs Veinbergs

Ph.D.

Course abstract

Groundwater hydrology course, describe solutions for most important hydrological problems, gives students insight to the theoretical and practical issues. Students get knowledge about groundwater, aquitards and aguifers, ground porosity conditions, coefficient of filtration, Darcy's law, groundwater flow volocity and hydraulics, hydrogeological determination of physical properties, groundwater hydrophysical and hydrochemical conditions and groundwater pollution problems.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

After the course studies, the student:
• knows and understands the basic concepts in hydrogeology, groundwater structures, moisture dynamics in the vadose zone, unconfined and confined groundwater layers, the concepts of groundwater flow and their relationship with surface waterbodies;
• can perform calculations and assessments of groundwater table and flow dynamics and identify the major affecting factors;

• Able to choose suitable calculation and graphical methods for analyzing the moisture conditions and hydrological processes of the selected territory, and solving complex water management issues. Able to connect the acquired knowledge with the topics discussed in other study courses of water management and environmental protection.

Course Content(Calendar)

Full time intramural studies:
1. Introduction to the study course, scope, learning conditions, literature to be used, course content – lecture (2 h)
2. Types of water in the soil, soil porosity – lecture (2h);
3. Calculations of soil porosity – practical work (1 h);
4. Vadose zone, capillarity, unconfined groundwater, confined groundwater – lecture (2 h);
5. Unconfined groundwater, confined groundwater, capillary rise – laboratory work (1 h);
6. Full moisture capacity, field moisture capacity, wilting point, effective porosity, specific yield, infiltration, percolation – lecture (2 h);
7. Moisture migration – laboratory work (1 h);
8. Moisture dynamics in the vadose zone, calculations of unconfined groundwater level rise, specific yield - practical work (4 h);
9. Test of knowledge (2 h);
10. Hydrodynamic network, migration of groundwater in vertical and horizontal flow dimensions – practical work (2 h);
11. Darsi's law, the implication of the filtration coefficient, groundwater flow velocity and flow rate - lecture (2 h);
12. Hydraulic conductivity and its measurement - lecture (1 h);
13. Calculations of the Hydraulic conductivity – practical work (1 h);
14. Flow calculations of unconfined and confined groundwaters – lecture (3 h);
15. Groundwater water structures in Latvia – lecture (2 h);
16. Groundwater level measurement – lecture (2 h)
17. Test of knowledge (2 h).

Part time extramural studies:
1. Introduction to the study course, scope, learning conditions, literature to be used, course content (1 h)
2. Types of water in the soil, soil porosity – individual studies (0 h);
3. Calculations of soil porosity – practical work (1 h);
4. Vadose zone, capillarity, unconfined groundwater, confined groundwater – individual studies (0 h);
5. Unconfined groundwater, confined groundwater, capillary rise - laboratory work (1 h);
6. Full moisture capacity, field moisture capacity, wilting point, effective porosity, specific yield, infiltration, percolation – individual studies (0 h);
7. Moisture migration – laboratory work (1 h);
8. Moisture dynamics in the vadose zone, calculations of unconfined groundwater level rise, specific yield - practical work (2 h);
9. Hydrodynamic network, migration of groundwater in vertical and horizontal flow dimensions – practical work (2 h);
10. Darsi's law, the implication of the filtration coefficient, groundwater flow velocity and flow rate - lecture. (2 h);
11. Hydraulic conductivity and its measurement - individual studies (0 h);
12. Calculations of the hydraulic conductivity – practical work (1 h);
13. Flow calculations of unconfined and confined groundwaters – lecture (2 h);
14. Groundwater water structures in Latvia – lecture (1 h);
15. Groundwater level measurement – lecture (0 h)

16. Test of knowledge (2 h).

Requirements for awarding credit points

Formal test with a grade in a system of a 10-point scale.
Successful assessment should obtain in all laboratory and practical works. A successful assessment (at least 4 of 10 points) should obtain in the tests of knowledge control.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Calculations and schemes started in the laboratory and practical works should develop and finish, a description and explanation of the results must be created.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

A maximum of 8 points can be obtained in each of the tests. It is possible to obtain up to 2 additional points for excellently developed laboratory and practical works, as well as for active involvement and successfully solved tasks assigned during the lessons. The final assessment consists of the sum of the average assessment obtained in the knowledge tests, to which additional points earned are added.

Compulsory reading

Zīverts A. Pazemes ūdeņu hidroloģija. Jelgava: LLU, 2001. 81 lpp.

Periodicals and other sources

1. Hydrogeology Journal. Official Journal of the International Association of Hydrogeologists 2022 Springer Nature Switzerland AG. Part of Springer Nature. (Online). [skatīts 28.03.2022.]. Pieejams: https://link.springer.com/journal/10040/volumes-and-issues
2. National Geographic. 1996-2015 National Geographic Society. ISSN 0027-9358. [skatīts 28.03.2022.]. Pieejams: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/

3. GEO Latvia. SIA Izdenviecība Lilita, Rīga. ISSN 1691-5046

Notes

The course is compulsory for Full time intramural and part time extramural studies of the study programme "Environment and Water Management"

Atsauksmes