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Modelling of processes in soils and aquifers
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:29:48
Abstract
Computational modelling of biogeochemical processes and transport of water and solutes in soils and aquifers.
Objective
Rationale: This course addresses the modelling of impacts by pollutants on terrestrial and aquatic environments. It helps to acquire to model hydrological, geochemical and microbial processes in soils and aquifers in order to predict the mobility of contaminants in heterogeneous environmental systems. Computer models used will be provided by the internet platform PolyQL ( http://www.polyql.ethz.ch ). Aims: - Conveying the fact that there are different modelling approaches - Developing skills for critical judgement of modelling results - Gaining competence with web-aided teaching and learning - Building up expertise in terms of internet-provided information - Gaining encouragement to actively edit the lecture material - Learning to think and act as part of a knowledge web
Content
- Writing simple computer models for biogeochemical processes - Chemical equilibria, speciation in aqueous solution, speciation at aqueous mineral surfaces, gas-solution and solid-solution equilibria - Chemical kinetics, biogeochemical processes, redox processes - Steady-state approach, serial-box models, sensitivity analysis - Group work using SerialSTEADYQL: Modelling of different scenarios to be compared with scenarios of other groups - Basic concepts in modelling water flow and solute transport - Exercises with HYDRUS-2D and MACRO exploring effects of boundary conditions, hydraulic properties, physical processes, and system profile on flow and transport through variably saturated soils - Using modelling for system management and data collection
Resources
Lecture Notes
Available as hardcopy and on-line material.
Literature
Zhu and Anderson, 2002. Environmental Applications of Geochemical Modeling. Cambridge University Press. Abbaspour and Schulin, 1996. Two-dimensional flow and transport processes. BUWAL, Switzerland.
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- DR , MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- ungraded semester performance
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| practical/laboratory course | Modelling of processes in soils and aquifers |
|
60 h semesterly |
Offered In
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Application Area (only necessary for MSc in Applied Mathematics)
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