Fall 2020 - EASC 602 G100
Environmental Isotopes (3)
Class Number: 4174
Delivery Method: Distance Education
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Sep 9 – Dec 8, 2020: TBA, TBA
Burnaby
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Instructor:
Dirk Kirste
dkirste@sfu.ca
1 778 782-5365
Office: TASC 1 Room 7411
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Prerequisites:
Undergraduate courses in hydrogeology and ground water geochemistry recommended (or permission of instructor).
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
This course reviews the principles of isotope geochemistry and examines case studies on the application of isotopes to hydrogeology and hydrogeochemistry. Problems in groundwater quality/resource evaluation including the origin of recharge, identifying and quantifying evaporation and water balance, ground water/surface water interactions and groundwater mixing will be addressed. Isotope methods in groundwater age dating will be discussed as well as the use of environmental isotopes in understanding water-rock interactions and groundwater flow paths.
COURSE DETAILS:
General:
This course reviews the basic principles of isotope geochemistry and examines case studies on the application of isotopes to hydrogeology and hydrogeochemistry. Problems in groundwater quality/resource evaluation including the origin of recharge, identifying and quantifying evaporation and water balance, ground water/surface water interactions and groundwater mixing will be addressed. Isotope methods in groundwater age dating will be discussed as well as the use of environmental isotopes in understanding water-rock interactions and groundwater flow paths.
Recommended courses: undergraduate course in hydrogeology and ground water geochemistry (or permission of instructor)
Course Topics:
- Isotope Physics
- Radiogenic Isotope Geochemistry
- Stable Isotope Geochemistry
- Applications of Isotope Tracers in Hydrology
- Isotopes in Precipitation
- Isotopes in Surface Water and Groundwater
- Carbon Isotopes
- Isotopes and Groundwater Quality
- Groundwater Age: Modern
- Groundwater Age: Old
- Isotopes and Water-Rock Interactions
Course Organization:
1 two-hour online discussion per week. Course grade will be based on a term research paper and 20 minute presentation of the research paper.
Grading
- Research Paper 70%
- Presentation 30%
Materials
REQUIRED READING:
Clark, I. and Fritz, P., 1997. Environmental Isotopes in Hydrogeology. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fl. 328 pp.
RECOMMENDED READING:
Selected Readings:
- Kendall, C. and McDonnell, J.J., 1998. Isotope Tracers in Catchment Hydrology. Elsevier Science, Amsterdam, 839pp.
- Cook, P and Herczeg, A.L., 2000. Environmental Tracers in Subsurface Hydrology, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Norwell, MA., 529pp.
- Allegre, C.J., 2008. Isotope Geology. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK., 512pp.
- Kazemi, G.A., Lehr, J.H. and Perrochet, P., 2006. Groundwater Age. Wiley-Interscience, Hobocken, NJ., 325pp.
- Hoefs, J., 2004. Stable Isotope Geochemistry. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. 244pp
Graduate Studies Notes:
Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.
Registrar Notes:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS
SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.
Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html
TEACHING AT SFU IN FALL 2020
Teaching at SFU in fall 2020 will be conducted primarily through remote methods. There will be in-person course components in a few exceptional cases where this is fundamental to the educational goals of the course. Such course components will be clearly identified at registration, as will course components that will be “live” (synchronous) vs. at your own pace (asynchronous). Enrollment acknowledges that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes. To ensure you can access all course materials, we recommend you have access to a computer with a microphone and camera, and the internet. In some cases your instructor may use Zoom or other means requiring a camera and microphone to invigilate exams. If proctoring software will be used, this will be confirmed in the first week of class.
Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need class or exam accommodations, including in the current context of remote learning, are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112).