Overview

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Introduction to the hydrologic cycle, with an emphasis on the hydrology of British Columbia; description and analysis of the processes of water movement and storage measurements and analysis of hydrologic data. Quantitative.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course covers hydrology theory and techniques, with the focus on water flow in the environment and standard hydrological problem-solving methods. The structure of the course will be based on the hydrological cycle, which includes topics on precipitation, interception, evapotranspiration, snow, soil/rock moisture, groundwater, and runoff generation techniques and dynamics. Case studies will focus on North American hydrology, with intent on learning of various watersheds in Western Canada, especially in British Columbia. Lectures will introduce concepts for practical applications in lab assignments. Labs in this course aim to: 1) teach data analysis techniques (using R coding, no experience needed), 2) apply theoretical concepts to hydrological data, and 3) introduce standard hydrology techniques. This course aims to provide a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical experience.

Note: There will be no labs the first week of lecture.

Field Trip Details & Dates:
During lecture hours. Thursday October 1, 2026

For this trip, be aware that there may be inclement weather, uneven terrain, insects and other wildlife. Appropriate clothing and footwear must be work. Further details regarding safety, protocols, and any necessary supplies will be discussed prior to the field trip. Students must at all times remain compliant with all student responsibilities, regulations, and policies outlined in the current Academic Calendar, as well as relevant regulations and policies as outlined in the SFU Policy Gazette. This includes but is not limited to expected student conduct and the maintenance of appropriate medical insurance coverage. To participate in course activities, students must sign as Adult Acknowledgement of Risk form. Further details regarding safety will be discussed at the beginning of the semester, focussing on risk assessment, safety concerns and field safety planning.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

At the completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Describe the physical processes responsible for the transfer of water within and between the components of the hydrologic cycle
• Describe the theory and application of standard hydrologic instrumentation
• Perform basic field hydrology tasks
• Employ standard analytical techniques commonly used in applied hydrology
• Write basic computer code to analyze and plot time series data
• Connect theoretical hydrologic concepts to current water issues

Grading

Materials

REQUIRED READING: