COURSE SYLLABUS
SCHEDULE OF
ACTIVITIES
ASSIGNMENTS
WIKI
INSTRUCTOR CONTACT
EVALUATION
COURSE POLICIES
COURSE GOALS
EMERGENCY INFO |
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ENVIRONMENTAL HYDROLOGY
Earth
Science 341
Spring, 2012
COURSE
SYLLABUS
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GENERAL INFORMATION AND
TEXTBOOK |
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
An introduction to surface water hydrology,
emphasizing applications in urban and agricultural
environments of the glaciated Midwest. Basic principles of the processes,
interrelationships, and measurement of precipitation,
infiltration, evaporation, evapotranspiration,
interflow, overland flow, stream flow, and ground water
flow. Introduction to quantification
of watershed hydrologic budgets, hydrographs, flood
routing, hydraulic drainage and control structures, and
estimation of extreme events. Lecture 2 hrs., laboratory
3 hrs. 4 Credit
hours.
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The outline of topics
will be updated several times each week.
Check frequently for changes!
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Complete the readings before
class on the day shown.
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For daily learning
objectives, click the date.
Links will be added daily as the semester progresses.
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Text:
The textbook for the course is Andy D. Ward and
Stanley W. Trimble (2004),
"Environmental Hydrology,
second edition", published by
CRC Press. The
first edition is not an
acceptable substitute, because the two
editions are significantly different from each other.
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CLASS ACTIVITIES
(Click the date for a list of
daily learning outcomes; these will be added throughout
the semester.) |
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Week |
TUESDAY 5:40 - 7:20 pm |
THURSDAY
5:40 - 8:10 pm |
| 1 |
JAN 10
The hydrologic cycle.
Watersheds, drainage basins, and catchments.
Quantitative calculations involving water: units,
dimensions, rates. |
JAN 12
Designing a rain
garden. The St. Charles rain garden project. Read the textbook Introductions (preceding
the Table of Contents), and Chapter 1, p. 1-11. |
| 2 |
JAN 17
Dew point, humidity, and
saturation. Causes of precipitation. Design
storms and time trends. Read Chapter 2. |
JAN 19
Measuring dew point. Measuring precipitation.
Finding data for the St. Charles rain garden project. |
| 3 |
JAN 24
Precipitation intensity, duration, and frequency.
Frequency distributions. Accessing and working with online precipitation data. |
JAN 26
Design storms and IDF curves. |
| 4 |
JAN 31 Infiltration and soil
water. The USDA textural triangle. Porosity,
saturation, and soil water content. Read Chapter 3.
Measuring snowfall equivalent depths (if we have snow). |
FEB 2
Field capacity and capillary action.
Lab activites on soil properties. |
| 5 |
FEB 7
Completing the St. Charles Rain Garden project;
evaluating the reports. |
FEB 9
Wilting point, PAW. Factors
determining infiltration rates. Measuring
infiltration rates. |
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6 |
FEB 14
Complete St. Charles Rain Garden report due.
Hydrologic Soil Group (HSG). |
FEB 16
Evaporation Pan evaporation.
Read Chapter
4. |
| 7 |
FEB 21
Evapotranspiration. Potential ET and Actual ET.
Measuring ET. |
FEB 23
Using the water balance method to estimate AET. |
| 8 |
FEB 28
Basic statistical analysis. Correlation. Regression equations.
Read Chapter 1, p. 11-26. |
MAR 1
Runoff and overland flow. Storm hydrographs. Watershed factors
affecting hydrograph shape. Read
Chapter 5. |
| 9 |
MAR 6
Stream hydrographs. |
MAR 8
Introducing the watershed project.
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| 10 |
MAR 13
Predicting peak runoff volume from a storm. The
NRCS Curve Number procedure. Read p. 132-147. |
MAR 15
Basics of auto-level (Dumpy level) surveying.
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| 11 |
MAR 20
Spring Break--no class. |
MAR 22
Spring Break--no class. |
| 12 |
MAR 27
Predicting peak discharge from a storm. The
Kirpich Equation and the Rational Method. |
MAR 29
USGS empirical regression models. Read p. 259-269. |
| 13 |
APR 3
The Universal Soil Loss Equation. Soil conservation. |
APR 5
The Chicago water and wastewater system. |
| 14 |
APR 10
The Chicago water and wastewater system. Work on
projects. |
APR 12
Work session for the final project. Bring all
needed files, materials, whatever you need to make
progress on your research. |
| 15 |
APR 17
Field trip to the St. Charles Rain Garden. We will
depart campus at 4:15 pm. |
APR 19
Practical hydrologic projects. Read Chapter 14. |
| 16 |
APR 24
Practical hydrologic projects, continued. |
APR 26
Practical hydrologic
projects, continued. |
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MAY 1
6:00-7:50 pm Final exam period.
Please check for conflicts
and notify me by January 31 if you have any. |
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| MAY 5
Commencement |
MAY 8
Grades due at midnight. |
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INSTRUCTOR CONTACT
INFORMATION |
Instructor:
Dr. Laura L. Sanders
(website)
E-Mail (the fastest way to reach me!):
L-Sanders (at) neiu
(dot) edu
Voice messages may be left at this
number: 773/442-6051
Office: During office hours and
in general, you can find me in BBH 130/132.
Mail:
Mail may be left for me in the envelope on the door to
BBH 130.
Office Hours:
Tuesday 4-5 pm,
7:20 - 8:20 pm
Wednesday 11:50 a.m. - 12:50 pm
Thursday 4:30 - 5 pm; 8:10 -
8:40 pm
or by appointment. |
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EVALUATION |
Grades will be based on the
criteria described below. Some work will be
completed individually, and some, in groups.
25%
In-Class Work: Activities completed in
class may range from lab activities to computer-based
work to group analyses and presentations. Credit
for work completed during class sessions cannot be made
up.
30%
Homework: See the
Assignments page for homework.
45% Hydrologic Projects: Several hydrologic
projects of varying duration will be completed during
the course of the semester. More details on each
project will be provided as the semester progresses.
One project will involve constructing a water budget for
a specific watershed; it will be completed in several
parts and will result in a written report containing
several sections. Another will involve making a
presentation to the class. For examples of various types of
hydrologic projects, see Chapter 14 of the textbook.
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COURSE REQUIREMENTS
AND POLICIES |
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Attendance at all class sessions is expected. The NEIU
policy on class attendance, published in the NEIU
catalog, applies to this course. Frequent in-class
assignments will be given, and they cannot be made up.
w A few field trips
will be scheduled as part of the course. Every
effort should be made to attend.
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All course requirements must be completed to pass the
course.
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Students should check e-mail at least every two days to
watch for course announcements and updates.
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Late homework assignments will
not be accepted
unless there is an approved
reason for missing the deadline, and only if I approve
the excuse before the assignment is due.
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Please note the schedule for the final exam period (inside the
back cover of the Schedule of Classes.) No exceptions
will be made other than those allowed by this policy.
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The official gradebook will be kept by the
instructor. Please check your scores periodically and
let the instructor know of any concerns.
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Students should bring the following to every class
meeting: scientific calculator, notebook, handouts,
pencil, and eraser. Also bring your textbook if
possible. You may find it helpful to have a small ruler
and a colored pencil (any color).
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tablet, notepad, netbook, or laptop computer you
are welcome to use it in class for taking notes and
performing class-related activities. Do not use it
during class for activities such as social networking or
web-surfing. Doing so is disruptive to you and
everyone sitting behind you.
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Cell phones should be off or set to silent
mode during class. Do not answer your phone or text in
class; to do so is disruptive.
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During "closed-book"
assignments in class, you may not use any electronic
devices, nor may you send or receive any messages.
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Please participate in all course
assessments:
anonymous "minute papers", ungraded quiz-type questions,
concept maps, or survey-type questions. This
information will help me determine the extent to which
the course is meeting its goals. To provide the most
information so that I can improve the course, I ask that
you give your most thoughtful, honest feedback--the
more, the better.
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Academic integrity:
The
NEIU policy on academic misconduct will be strictly
enforced. A
site from Indiana University explains and gives
examples of plagiarism and provides helpful tips on how
to avoid it. Cheating on homework, exams, quizzes, or
other course components will result in a score of zero
for that assignment or more severe penalties, as
described in the NEIU policy.
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Flexibility:
This outline will change as
the semester evolves. Check this page frequently for
updates! |
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COURSE GOALS Upon completion of this
course, the student will be able to do the following: |
1) Explain the physical
processes of the formation of precipitation,
infiltration, evaporation, evapotranspiration,
interflow, overland flow, stream flow, and ground water
flow.
2) Describe and explain methods and technology for
collection of measurements of hydrologic data.
3) Demonstrate methods for quantifying a hydrologic
budget for a watershed.
4) Use historical data and areal regression curves for
estimating probability and magnitude of extreme flood or
storm events.
5) Construct hydrographs and unit hydrographs, and
interpret historical hydrograph data.
6) Demonstrate simple methods (e.g. the Muskingum
method) for flood routing.
7) Describe strategies for soil drainage of urban or
agricultural land. |
| COURSE WEBSITE:
http://www.neiu.edu/~llsander/341/Spring2012/syllabus.htm |
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Web Link to Emergency
Information
It is recognized that a safe
university environment is a shared responsibility of
faculty, staff, and students, all of whom are expected
to familiarize themselves with and cooperate with
emergency procedures. Web links to Campus Safety:
Emergency Procedures and Safety Information can be found
on NEIUport on the MyNEIU tab or as follows:
http://www.neiu.edu/~neiutemp/Emergency_Procedures/MainCampus/
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