Geosciences 691GW - S-SurfceWater-GroundwaterInter

The field of Hydrology has long separated the study of surface water (streams, lakes, etc.) from groundwater, despite the clear connection of these systems. Over the last two decades, surface water and groundwater have increasingly been viewed as a single resource, producing a myriad of new and exciting scientific work on the subject. The quantity and quality of surface water can affect the volume and chemistry of groundwater, and vice versa. Interactions between these are crucial to understanding the ecosystems that depend on them, the processes governing hydrologic systems, and effective resource assessment and management practices. In this course you will learn in-class and field-based techniques for the quantification of surface water - groundwater interactions, explore the scientific literature investigating the interfaces between disciplines encapsulated by hydrologic and geologic systems and ecosystems. The class will examine a current issue related to surface water - groundwater interactions, and collectively, will provide concrete recommendations for addressing the issue in a final report.

You will learn:
- To measure exchange of surface water and groundwater in the field (two fieldtrips)
- The experimental basis and fundamental theories behind established and new methods for quantifying the relationship between surface water and groundwater
- To think critically about assumptions about the connection (or lack thereof) between surface water and groundwater
- Current findings and developing knowledge in the scientific literature
- To address a real-world problem using tools from your knowledge of surface water - groundwater interactions developed in this course