Postgraduate Course: Hydrogeological Environments and Characterisation (PGGE11278)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course develops the students understanding of hydrogeological environments, recognising how different geological settings influence subsurface flow characteristics. The course provides a practical introduction to the main characterisation and analysis techniques, with an emphasis on applying current concepts, methods and technologies for ground water resource assessment in the context of different applied problems. |
| Course description |
Hydrogeologists study the subsurface flow of water and its interaction with the surrounding geology and applying this understanding to practical uses such as wells for drinking water, pollution monitoring and clean-up and harnessing geothermal energy. They are at the forefront of many of today¿s important issues including sustainable water supply, food and energy production, environmental protection and climate change.
The course lectures which develop the students¿ knowledge base with advancing concepts that are supported by practical field sessions, laboratory tests, analysis and report writing aimed at developing technical, interpretation and reporting skills and encourage critical thinking. Integration of the concepts developed in the taught programme is facilitated through student centred investigations of current issues linked to a range of hydrogeological environments. The students will develop a sound understanding of the geological controls on groundwater hydraulics, to a range of laboratory and field tests to characterise the hydrogeological environments within the subsurface.
Proposed course outline:
Unit 1: Fluid Flow in Aquifers and Aquicludes. The students learn to identify what type of aquifer or aquitard is present and evaluate the key flow characteristics. The lecture content will include:
How to characterise a porous aquifer;
How to characterise a porous aquifer;
How to characterise a fractured porous aquifer;
What key features control the flow of fluid?
What key features control the flow of fluid distribution of contamination?
Unit 2: Applied groundwater Hydrochemistry. The students learn to identify the geochemistry and reactivity within the hydrological system. The lecture content will include:
pH, EC, Solubility of Solids and Gasses, REDOX
Solution and precipitation
Mixing of Groundwaters
Adsorption and Ion Exchange
Carbonate System
Silicate System
Sulphate System
Fe Stability
NAPL & DNAPL
Application of PIPER & Stiff Diagrams
Unit 3: Groundwater in the field. The students learn to relate aquifer permeability to heterogeneity and evaluate appropriate GW field sampling techniques. The lecture content will include:
Heterogeneity and how it influences flow;
How it can measured in the field;
Representative elemental volumes statistical measurements of heterogeneity.
Unit 4: Hydrogeological Environments. The students will understand, interpret and evaluate a wide range of different geological scenarios and environments and relate these geological and sedimentological controls to groundwater flow and chemistry. The lecture content will include:
Unconsolidated Aquifers
Glaciated terrane
Alluvial valleys
Alluvial in tectonic Valleys
Aeolian deposits
Consolidated Sedimentary Rocks
Sandstone
Limestone
Shale
Coal
Volcanic Rocks
Crystalline Rocks
Locality Specific
Permafrost
Arid and Semi-arid
Coastal Plain
Oceanic Islands
Unit 5: Fresh Water - Saline Water Relationship. The students will appraise the dynamic freshwater / marine hydrological environment. The lecture content will include:
Mathematical relationships to appraise
Active and passive saline water encroachment and
Tidal effects. This topic will be covered in week 6 by CMcD and include lectures with tutorial and exercises to consolidate their learning.
Unit 6: Industrial Legacy (Coal, Shale, Ironstone, Mineral). The students will evaluate the impact of our industrial legacy on groundwater resources. The lecture content will include:
A case study of the Almond Catchment;
Hydrogeology;
Geochemistry of mine water releases &
Treatment technologies.
Unit 7: Urban-Hydrogeology. The students will evaluate the impact of the urban environment on the hydrogeology. The lecture content will include:
Altered water balances;
Hydrogeological issues;
Recharge from sewers;
Case studies;
Holistic modelling approaches &
Solutions.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Basic knowledge of geology and maths to satisfaction of CO |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2022/23, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Quota: 40 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
196 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
100% coursework.«br /»
«br /»
The assessment will be a single 10 page (3500 word) hydrogeology assessment report from a choice of two topics: «br /»
«br /»
Provide a report on how geology influences the Scottish Groundwater Characteristics. «br /»
«br /»
How does Scotland¿s unique industrial legacy impact hydrogeology today? «br /»
«br /»
The individual components of the hydrogeology assessment directly link to the first four learning outcomes and the report itself is learning outcome 5«br /»
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| Feedback |
During the course, two of the components of the assessment, the field (site) map and the sampling analysis report will be submitted for formative feedback.
Over 80% of the course content has associated tutorials and practical sessions, most directly aligned with their assessment report. This provides students with ongoing opportunities to consolidate their learning and provide continuous in-class feedback and the provision of in-class support to provide clarification if required.
Informal class discussions will be included within the course, teaching allowing both the exchange of ideas, and feedback on knowledge levels and on the presentation ideas. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Predict the key flow characteristics within aquifers or aquitards.
- Evaluate different geological settings and scenarios and relate these to ground water flow characteristics.
- Appraise the relationships between aquifer permeability and heterogeneity and design appropriate field sampling techniques.
- Recognise and appraise the most suitable characterisation techniques to evaluate subsurface fluid flow in different hydrogeological environments in the context of different applied problems.
- Prepare a hydrogeology assessment report to industry standard guidelines.
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Reading List
Freeze, R.A. and Cherry, J.A. Groundwater
Fetter, C.W. Applied Hydrogeology
Weight, W.D. Practical Hydrogeology: Principles and Field Applications
Singhal, B.B.S and Gupta, R.P. Applied hydrogeology of fractured rocks. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
This course will equip our graduates with a wide range of skills including;
A good level of mathematical, analytical and modelling skills.
Problem solving and practical hands on skills.
Capacity to evaluate complex data and to extrapolate conclusions from incomplete data.
Critical and reflective thinkers, some subsurface technologies are controversial, all require expert knowledge to assess independently.
Organised with good project management skills and a flexible approach to work.
Skilled communicators, both oral and written
Ability to work well within a team |
| Keywords | Hydrogeology,geology,aquifer,characterisation,groundwater |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Katriona Edlmann
Tel: (0131 6)50 7339
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Kathryn Will
Tel: (0131 6)50 2624
Email: |
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