Geohydrology

Kenneth Carroll,

https://web.nmsu.edu/~kccarr/KCCarroll.html

New Mexico State University-Main Campus

Summary

Origin, occurrence, and movement of fluids in porous media and assessment of aquifer characteristics. This course aims to develop a thorough understanding of groundwater hydrogeology through the lecture and laboratory, which will include experimental methods as well as analytical and numerical models.

Course Size:

15-30

Course Format:

Integrated lecture and lab

Institution Type:

University with graduate programs, including doctoral programs

Course Context:

This class is cross listed in the Plant & Environmental Sciences (Environmental Science), Civil Engineering, and Geology Departments. It also supports a new multidepartment, multidisciplinary, graduate program called the Water Science and Management Graduate Program (http://prospective.nmsu.edu/graduate/degrees/aces/wsm.html). It serves both upper-level undergraduate and graduate students. A laboratory section of this class is required.

Course Content:

The focus is on the application of hydrogeology for water resources. It will cover groundwater resource assessment, impact analysis, aquifer test analysis, monitoring/characterization, dewatering, aquifer storage and recovery, contamination remediation, and resource management. The students learn to apply theories through modeling assignments in the laboratory section. Additionally, case studies illustrate the use of groundwater flow models for various hydrogeologic applications, and the course will introduce the most widely used modeling software packages.

Course Goals:

The primary objective of this course is for students to become familiar groundwater hydrology issues, problems, and analysis methods. Another objective is for students to learn critical thinking, problem solving, and reporting skills. The students will learn to apply theories through modeling assignments in the laboratory section. At the conclusion of the course the student will be able to: Use hydrologic principles to assess origins and movement of water in aquifer systems; Perform routine analyses of geohydrologic data to characterize and model movement of water in the subsurface, and assess impacts of groundwater management on aquifer status; Assess movement of water in aquifer systems, develop a water balance, measure groundwater flow and storage properties, evaluate water quality and contaminant movement, evaluate aquifer test results, and Develop conceptual and quantitative models of groundwater systems.

Course Features:

This course develops interest and engages students through real-world application and active learning. The lecture topics are related to local and relevant issues to illustrate the importance of the content to their lives. The in-class activities and lab projects are designed to illustrate applicability as well as develop problem solving skills.

Course Philosophy:

This is an interdisciplinary class that supports students with diverse backgrounds in physics, engineering, and quantitative analysis. My goal is to teach quantitative methods when needed with a focus on application, which I believe is needed to support student motivation.