Department
of Earth Science |
Northeastern
Illinois University
Department
of Earth Science |Northeastern
Illinois University
Please note: The online version of this syllabus will be updated several times per week as we move through the semester. Please check back frequently for updates.
| Course Description: Introduction to the theory and principles of ground water flow as well as streamflow. Topics include the hydrologic equation, evapotranspiration, well drilling and testing, porosity and permeability, Darcy's law, confined and unconfined aquifers, flow nets, geology of ground water occurrence, water table maps, geophysical exploration methods, well logs, streamflow, and hydrographs (4 credit hours). (From the NEIU catalog.) |
Instructor: Dr.
Laura L. Sanders
Office: S-146
Phone:
773/442-6051
Fax:
773/442-5710
E-Mail: L-Sanders@neiu.edu
Office Hours: M
8:10-8:40 pm, T 4:00-6:00 pm, W 4:00-5:00 pm, R 8:30-9:00 pm,
and by appointment.
Course Prerequisites: Physical
Geology
(ESCI 211)
and either College Algebra (MATH 104) or Precalculus Mathematics (MATH
106)
Text: C.W.
Fetter, Applied Hydrogeology, 4th edition, 2001
Course Website: http://www.neiu.edu/%7Ellsander/337/2005/home.html
Earth Science Department Website: www.neiu.edu/~deptesci/welcome.htm
v Reading
assignments listed here are for the Fetter textbook.
v Click
on the date to see a list of objectives for that class period.
These
will be updated at least twice weekly, just before the start of each
class.
| AUG 29 Course overview, working in teams, observing ground water flow. Hydrologic cycle. Read: Chapter 1. | AUG 31 Lab #1. Wells and water levels. Solving quantitative problems. Read: p. 24-42. |
| SEP 5 Labor Day; no class. | SEP 7
Report
for Lab #1 is due. Find the
other groups' data and graphs here! Putting flow model data
and well data in context.
Drainage basins. Topographic maps and drainage
basin delineation. Homework:
Assignment #1 is due. |
| SEP 12 Analyzing spatial distribution of precipitation data. Effective uniform depth, Thiessen method. Estimating map area. Read: p. 43-48, 55-58. | SEP 14
Quiz
#1. Measuring precipitation,
evaporation,
and stream flow. Thiessen method, continued. |
| SEP 19 Lab #2: Hydrographs, interpreting and analyzing stream flow data. Homework: Assignment #2 is due at the beginning of class today! | SEP 21
Water budgets and the hydrologic equation. |
| SEP 26 Lab #3: Water flow: lab explorations. Read: p. 69-81. Review for exam. | SEP 28 EXAM #1. |
| OCT 3 Lab #4: Water flow: lab explorations, continued. | OCT 5
Properties
of porous materials:
porosity,
effective
porosity,
specific yield, specific retention. |
| OCT 10 Lab #5: Measuring hydraulic properties of sediments: porosity, effective porosity, specific yield, specific retention, and hydraulic conductivity. Darcy's Law. Read: p. 66-100, 90-93, 104-106. | OCT
12 Hydrostratigraphy.
Hydrogeologic
cross sections and maps. Using geologic maps; ground
water modeling. |
| OCT
17 Lab
#6: The
NEIU Darcy tube. Read: p. 132-138 and
Chapter
13. |
OCT 19 Ground water flow. Water levels; wells; piezometers; hydraulic head; gradient. Hydraulic head, Darcy's Law, and flow nets. Read: p. 100-108, Chapter 4 and p. 297-300. |
| OCT 24 Review of hydraulic properties and flow concepts. | OCT 26 EXAM #2 |
| OCT
31 Lab #7: Flow nets I. Read:
Chapter 7. |
NOV 2 Flow nets II. |
| NOV 7 Lab #8: Flow nets, contd. Ground water modeling. | NOV 9 Flow nets, continued. |
| NOV
14 Lab #9: Regional ground water flow and ground water
models. Read:
Chapter 7. |
NOV
16 Hydrostratigraphy and construction of cross
sections. |
| NOV 21 Lab #10: Hydrostratigraphy and construction of cross sections. Plotting well locations. Read: Chapter 13. Graphic Groundwater home page. | NOV
23 Ground
water modeling, contd. The
flow
equation. Conceptual models; grids for numerical
models.
|
| NOV 28 Lab #11: Ground water modeling, contd. | NOV 30 Ground water modeling, continued. |
| DEC 5
Lab #12: Ground
water modeling,
continued. |
DEC 7
Ground
water modeling,
continued. |
| DEC
12
Review
for exam. |
DEC 14 Exam #3, 6:00-7:50 pm. Please note the unusual starting time! Modeling projects and report due. |
Attendance at all lecture and
lab
sessions is expected. Please bring the following to class every
day:
§ Your textbook
and notebook.
§ A scientific
calculator, pencil, eraser, ruler, and a colored pencil (optional)--any
color is fine.
§ Optional: when
we work with topographic maps, you might find it convenient to use a
map
scale, or engineer's scale. These three-sided rulers make
measuring
distances on topo maps much easier. If you buy one, be sure
to
get an engineer's scale (divided into tenths and then subdivided)
and
not
an architect's scale (divided into halves, quarters, eighths,
sixteenths,
and so on).
Laboratory Work: Weekly laboratory activities will be described on handouts. Only certain portions of each lab will be graded, and unless otherwise stated, you should hand in these portions before you leave the lab. Some lab activities will be done individually, while others will be done in teams.
Homework: Homework and some labs will be completed and handed in by teams. Assignments and due dates will be posted on the course outline and on the homework page. Each paper handed in should list only the names of the students who participated in producing the final product. Team members should first outline the solutions to problems on their own, and then should work together to complete the solutions. Only one grade will be assigned per team. When solving quantitative problems, be sure to use the hints linked to this syllabus.
Project: In the project, which we will work on in teams throughout the semester, you will construct, test, and use a numerical ground water model that will allow you to delineate a wellhead protection area of a community water supply well in Illinois. Several of the homework assignments and labs will deal directly with this project. The final paper will be a report describing the geologic and hydrogeologic setting, the ground water model, and the five-year recharge area for the well(s) in the study.
Assessments: Students must participate in all assessment activities ("green sheets"). I want to learn how well certain concepts are getting across and how the class is feeling about the material and the course as we go along. At the end of each class period, you will assess this, anonymously. On these “green sheets”, assessment questions will help me find out how well the day’s outcomes were achieved. This may be done in the form of an ungraded quiz-type question, a concept map, or survey-type questions. This information will help me to determine the extent to which the course is meeting its goals. To provide me with the most information so that I can make the course better, I ask that you give me your most thoughtful, honest feedback-- the more, the better.
Academic integrity: The NEIU policy on academic integrity will be strictly enforced. A site from the University of Indiana explains and gives examples of plagiarism and provides helpful tips on how to avoid it.
Flexibility: This outline will change as the semester evolves. Please allow for flexibility in topics and assignments. Check this page frequently for updates!
Evaluation: 3 exams, weighted equally: 36%Department of Earth Science | Northeastern Illinois University
© 2005 Laura L.
Sanders.
Last updated December 13, 2005.