Department
of Earth Science |
Northeastern
Illinois University
Department
of Earth Science |Northeastern
Illinois University
Course Syllabus. This online syllabus will be updated several times per week as we move through the semester. Check back frequently for updates.
| Course Description: The water budget and its various components; hydrologic theories, methodologies, and techniques of data analysis used to estimate and/or determine values for each component of the water budget; introduction to computer modeling of water budget components. Lecture 2 hours, lab 2 hours. Prerequisite: graduate standing and ESCI 337 (Principles of Hydrogeology) or consent of instructor. (3 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: Mondays from 7 to 9
pm, Tuesday from 3 to 5:30 pm, and Tuesday from 9
to
9:30 pm,
and by appointment.
Course Prerequisite:
Principles
of Hydrogeology (ESCI 337)
Text: No published textbook
is required.
However, you will need to consult the worldwide web, as well as library
resources. In addition, at times you will find it useful to
consult a basic hydro text such as Fetter's Applied Hydrogeology
for a review of basic
concepts. Reading assignments will be posted on the daily list of
objectives.
Course Website: www.neiu.edu/~llsander/416/2004/home.html
Earth Science Department Website: www.neiu.edu/~deptesci/welcome.htm
v Click on the date to see a list of objectives for that class period. These will be updated weekly.
| AUG 31
Course overview. The hydrologic cycle: fluxes, temporal and
spatial scales. Water budgets. Drainage basins:
delineation, hydrologic characteristics of basins. |
| SEP
7 Scientific
research papers. The hydrologic research report. Units
of measurement. Measuring area. Measuring hydrologic
variables. Instrumentation. Precipitation, evaporation, evapotranspiration, stream
flow, ground water. |
| SEP 14 Hydrologic budgets, continued. Hydrographs. Developing a research project. |
| SEP 21 Hydrographs, continued. Precipitation data collection and analysis. Homework #2 is due. |
| SEP 28 Analysis of spatially-variable data; the Thiessen method. Intensity-Duration-Frequency graphs; Depth-Duration-Frequency graphs.Recurrence interval, probability analysis, design storms. Homework #3 is due. |
| OCT 5 Stream discharge data collection and analysis. Precip data collection. Rainfall-runoff analyses. Recession constants. Homework #4 is due. |
| OCT 12 Quiz #1. More on downloading and working with data. More on hydrographs. Homework #5 is due. |
| OCT 19 Rainfall-runoff analyses. Unit hydrographs. Homework #6 is due. |
| OCT
26 Unit hydrographs, continued. |
| NOV
2 Writing
the Methods section. Correlating precipitation with stream flow data and
unit
hyrographs. Continuing to develop the unit hydrograph. |
| NOV
9 No class due to instructor attending the Geological Society
of
America meeting. Class will be held NOV
11 instead!!! |
| NOV 23 No class. |
| NOV
30 No
class due to UPI strike. |
| DEC
7 No class due to UPI strike. |
| DEC
14
6:00-9:50
pm. Note the unusual
hours! Student presentations on
research. Preparation of research reports. Flood insurance
rate maps. |
| DEC
21
Quiz #3. Final course
evaluations. Pizza.
Papers 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).
E-Mail: Students must have an
e-mail
account (either through NEIU or an e-mail service) and must pick up
messages
at least three times weekly.
| Grades will be based on the following: | Hydrologic research
report 70 pts Quizzes 15 pts Attendance and participation 15 pts (1 per class session) (No points will be deducted for classes missed due to the UPI strike.) |
In general, 90-100 pts = A, 80-89 pts = B, 70-79 pts = C, 60-69 pts = D, <60 pts = F. No extra credit will be given.
Hydrologic Research Report: The hydrologic research report will investigate in depth a specific hydrologic research question. Students will propose topics after doing preliminary investigations. Topics will then be presented to the class as a whole, and research groups will form among students with similar interests. Each student will write her or his own paper, however, tasks of data collection and analysis will be shared within research groups. Examples of potential topics are presented at this link. The research will be based on quantitative data and will be written in the format of a standard research paper. The report will be evaluated on aspects such as those listed below. More detailed information about each draft will be provided as the semester progresses.
* Content (Is the hydrologic analysis logical, consistent, well-reasoned, and complete? Are arguments and conclusions well-supported? Is the degree of uncertainty in the analyses quantified and evaluated reasonably?)
* Organization (Are all the required sections present? Is information presented in a logical order, with appropriate headings and subheadings? )
* Format and presentation (grammar, composition, typing, clarity and completeness of figures/tables/graphs)
Attendance and
participation: One point per class period
will be awarded for attendance at and participation in the class.
Participation will be evaluated on the basis of whether or not the
student
is actively involved in group discussions and projects, and
workshop-type
activities during class time. In addition, students must fill out
the daily assessments (“green sheets”) to provide feedback on how the
course
is going for them.
Quizzes: Three quizzes will
be given. Dates will be selected after the research paper
topics are chosen and assigned. Dates will appear on the outline
of
topics and will be announced at least a week in advance.
Much of the work this semester 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.
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.
Department of Earth Science | Northeastern Illinois University
© 2004 Laura L.
Sanders.
Last updated December 21, 2004.