Hydrogeology and Human Affairs (GLY 3882)

Class:
M 7th period
W 7-8 period

Instructor:
Dr. Liz Screaton
(email)

Text:
We will use web resources. If you wish to have a text for reference, I suggest:
Groundwater in the Environment (Younger)

Lecture outlines will be posted on E-Learning (WebCT) ~1 day prior to class. 

Course Description: Water is a resource that is vital for life. The quality and quantity of our water resources are currently under threat. Groundwater is an important part of our water resources, but is often poorly understood. This class will introduce the basic concepts of groundwater flow,  its use as a resource, and its impact on environmental hazards. Case studies will be used to illustrate the class concepts.

Recommended Background:

- I will assume a basic understanding of geology (e.g., types of rocks, geologic processes).
- Although this class focuses primariliy on concepts, there will be some problems to demonstrate the concepts. You should feel comfortable with basic calculations and working with spreadsheets.

Topics to be covered:

Occurrence of Water Underground
Recharge processes (Groundwater and the Hydrologic Cycle)
Groundwater Movement
Natural Groundwater Chemistry
Groundwater Discharge
Groundwater and Streams
Groundwater and Ecosystems
Groundwater as a Resource
Threats to Groundwater Quantity
Threats to Groundwater Quality
Contamination prevention and Remediation
Collecting Hydrogeologic Information
Groundwater Hazards
Groundwater in the U.S.
Groundwater in Florida
Current Issues in Groundwater