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651-4023-00L 4 Credits MSC D-USYS , D-ERDW
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Groundwater

Lecturers & Examiners: Dr. Xiang-Zhao Kong, Dr. Beatrice Marti
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:36:18

Abstract

The course provides an introduction into quantitative analysis of groundwater flow and solute transport. It is focussed on understanding, formulating, and solving groundwater flow and solute transport problems.

Objective

a) Students understand the basic concepts of groundwater flow and solute transport processes, and boundary conditions. b) Students are able to formulate simple, practical groundwater flow and solute transport problems. c) Students are able to understand and apply simple analytical and/or numerical solutions to fluid flow and solute transport problems.

Content

1. Introduction to groundwater problems. Concepts to quantify properties of aquifers. 2. Flow equation. The generalised Darcy law. 3. The water balance equation and basic concepts of poroelasticity. 4. Boundary conditions. Formulation of flow problems. 5. Analytical solutions to flow problems 6. Finitie difference scheme solution for simple flow problems. 7. Numerical solution using finitie difference scheme. 8. Concepts of transport modelling. Mass balance equation for contaminants. 9. Boundary conditons. Formulation of contaminant transport problems in groundwater. 10. Analytical solutions to transport problems. 11. Fractured and karst aquifers. 12. The unsaturated zone and capillary pressure. 13. Examples of applied hydrogeology from Switzerland and around the world. (Given by Dr. Beatrice Marti from Hydrosolutions Ltd.)

Resources

Lecture Notes

Handouts of slides.

Literature

Bear J., Hydraulics of Groundwater, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1979 Domenico P.A., and F.W. Schwartz, Physical and Chemical Hydrogeology, J. Wilson & Sons, New York, 1990 Chiang und Kinzelbach, 3-D Groundwater Modeling with PMWIN. Springer, 2001. Kruseman G.P., de Ridder N.A., Analysis and evaluation of pumping test data. Wageningen International Institute for Land Reclamation and Improvement, 1991. de Marsily G., Quantitative Hydrogeology, Academic Press, 1986

General Information

Language
English
Levels
MSC
Frequency
Yearly recurring

Examination

Type
graded semester performance
Two written exams: the mid-term and the final exams contribute 40 % and 60 % to the final grade, respectively.

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture with exercise Groundwater
  • Mon 16:15-18:00 (HG D 3.2)
  • Thu 08:15-10:00 (NO C 44)
4 h weekly

Offered In