Department
of Earth Science |
Northeastern
Illinois University
Department
of Earth Science |Northeastern
Illinois University
Course Syllabus
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: T
4:30-5:30
pm, T 8:35-9:35 pm, R 4:30-6:30 pm, R 8:35-9:35 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
Website for textbook: www.appliedhydrogeology.com
Course Website: www.neiu.edu/~llsander/337home.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.
| JAN 13 Course overview, working in teams. Hydrologic cycle. Read: Chapter 1. | JAN 15 Water budget, hydrologic equation. Solving quantitative problems. Read: p. 24-42. |
| JAN 20 Topographic maps and drainage basin delineation. Analyzing spatial distribution of precipitation data. Lab #1. Effective uniform depth, Thiessen method. Homework: Assignment #1 is due. | JAN 22 Quiz #1. Thiessen method, contd. Estimating map area. Read: p. 43-48, 55-58. |
| JAN 27 Lab #2: Hydrographs, interpreting and analyzing stream flow data. . Homework: Assignment #2 is due. | JAN 29 Thiessen method, contd. Measuring precipitation, evaporation, evapotranspiration, and stream flow. Review for exam. |
| FEB 3 EXAM #1. | FEB 5 Water flow: lab explorations. Homework: Assignment #3 is due. |
| FEB 10 Lab #3: Properties of porous materials: porosity, effective porosity, specific yield, specific retention. Read: p. 69-81. | FEB 12 No class: Lincoln's Birthday Holiday |
| FEB 17 Lab #4: Using permeameters to measure hydraulic conductivity. Read: p. 90-93. | FEB 19 Properties of porous materials, cont: hydraulic conductivity. Darcy’s Law. Hydrostratigraphy. Read: p. 66-100, 104-106. |
| FEB 24 Hydrogeologic cross sections and maps. Ground water flow. Water levels; wells; piezometers; hydraulic head; gradient. Read: p. 100-108, Chapter 4 and p. 297-300. Homework: Assignment #4 is due. | FEB
26 Using geologic maps; ground water modeling. |
| MAR
2 Lab
#5: The
NEIU Darcy tube. Read: p. 132-138 and
Chapter
13. Homework:
Assignment #5 is due. |
MAR 4 Hydraulic head, Darcy's Law, and flow nets. |
| MAR 9 Lab #6: Flow nets I. Review for exam. | MAR 11 EXAM #2 |
| MAR
16 Lab #7: Flow nets II. Read: Chapter 7.
|
MAR 18 Flow nets, continued. |
| MAR 23 SPRING BREAK | MAR 25 SPRING BREAK |
| MAR 30 Lab #8: Flow nets, contd. Ground water modeling. | APR 1 Regional ground water flow and ground water models. Read: Chapter 7. Graphic Groundwater home page. |
| APR 6 Lab #9: Flow nets, continued. | APR 8 Flow nets and ground water modeling. The flow equation. Conceptual models; grids for numerical models. Homework: Assignment #6 is due. |
| APR 13 Lab #10: Ground water modeling: Read: Chapter 13. | APR 15 Ground water modeling, contd. Homework: Assignment #7 is due. |
| APR 20 Lab #11: Ground water modeling, contd. | APR 22 Ground water modeling, continued. |
| APR
27 Lab #12: Ground water modeling, continued. |
APR 29 Water level measurement and mapping. Review for exam. |
| MAY 4 Modeling projects and report due. Exam #3, 6:00-7:50 pm. Please note the unusual starting time! |
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.
Exams and Quizzes: Three exams will be given; dates are shown on the outline of topics. Quizzes given will be announced in advance.
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.
Evaluation: 3 exams, weighted
equally:
36%
Laboratory work: 12%
Homework
and quizzes: 36%
Project
paper: 16%
No extra credit will be given.
In general, 90-100% = A, 80-89% = B, 70-79% = C, 60-69% = D, <60% =F
Department of Earth Science | Northeastern Illinois University
© 2004 Laura L.
Sanders.
Last updated April 29, 2004.