SWES/HWR 625 - Physical Characterization and Monitoring of the Critical Zone
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The critical zone (CZ), the outer terrestrial layer that ranges from the top of the vegetation cover down to the bottom of the aquifer, undergoes rapid transformations in response to anthropogenic perturbations. To better understand spatial and temporal variability of complex physical, chemical, and biological processes and to develop environmentally sound management strategies for sustainable use of our natural resources, characterization and monitoring of CZ processes are essential tasks that require highly qualified experts in Environmental Sciences & Engineering. This new course is targeted at graduate students majoring in soils, environmental sciences and engineering, hydrology, geophysics, and geography. The course is intended to provide students with theory and hands-on training with state-of-the-art technology for CZ characterization, the design and setup of complex monitoring systems, and the required skills for analyzing and interpreting resulting data streams. Emphasis will be given to monitoring and characterization of vadose zone and groundwater processes, hydro-geochemical surface water processes, and climatic variables.
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SWES/HWR/ABE 605 - Modeling of Mass and Energy Flow in Soils
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This modeling course is intended to provide students majoring in soils, environmental sciences and engineering, hydrology, geophysics, and related disciplines with the theoretical and computational basis for understanding and quantifying (coupled) transport of heat, gas, water, solutes and colloids in saturated and unsaturated soils. The course focuses on the physical, chemical and biological principles that control and drive the transport processes in one, two, and three dimensions. Hands-on training is an important aspect of this course with about half of the contact hours reserved for in-class use of state-of-the-art computer codes that deal with practically applicable transport problems. Students gain (1) experience with formulation and characterization of transport phenomena in soils and energy and mass exchange with vegetation and atmosphere; (2) familiarity with Richards' and convection-dispersion equations (origin, derivation and solution methods); and (3) familiarity with latest vadose zone research on water and solute transport.
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SWES 470/570 - Soil Physics
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SWES 470/570 is intended to provide students majoring in soils, environmental sciences and engineering, hydrology, geophysics, geography, and related disciplines with the theoretical and practical basis for understanding and quantifying physical and hydrological properties of soils. The course focuses on hydro-physical processes taking place near the Earth's surface emphasizing mass and energy exchange, and transport processes in saturated and partially-saturated soils at multiple scales. Coupling with the atmosphere and the role of plants in the hydrological cycle will be discussed. Students will gain hands-on experience with modern measurement methods and analytical tools for hydrological data collection and interpretation during the laboratory sessions.
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