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701-0401-AAL 3 Credits MSC D-USYS
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Hydrosphere

Lecturers & Examiners: Prof. Dr. Rolf Kipfer, Prof. Dr. Martin Herbert Schroth
Enrolment ONLY for MSc students with a decree declaring this course unit as an additional admission requirement. Any other students (e.g. incoming exchange students, doctoral students) CANNOT enrol for this course unit.
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-02-05 16:21:27

Abstract

In this self-study course, students learn about relevant processes that control the water cycle on earth. Energy and mass exchange, mixing and transport processes are described and the coupling of the hydrosphere with the atmosphere and the solid Earth are discussed.

Objective

Qualitative and quantitative understanding on how physical (and geochemical) processes control the natural dynamics in groundwater, lakes ans oceans and constrain the exchange of mass and energy.

Content

Topics of the course. Physical properties of water (i.e. density and equation of state) - global water resources Exchange at boundaries - energy (thermal & kinetic), gas exchange Mixing and transport processes in open waters - vertical stratification, large scale transport - turbulence and mixing - mixing and exchange processes in rivers Groundwater and its dynamics - ground water as part of the terrestrial water cycle - ground water hydraulics, Darcy's law - aquifers and their properties - hydrochemistry and tracer - ground water use Case studies - 1. Water as resource, 2. Water and climate

Resources

Literature

Textbooks for self-studying. Surface water. 'Physics and Chemistry in Lakes', ed: Lerman, A., Imboden, D.M., and Gat, J., Springer Verlag, 1995: Chapter 4: Imboden, D.M., and Wüest, A. 'Mixing Mechanisms in Lakes' 'Environmental Organic Chemistry', ed: Schwarzenbach, R., Imboden, D. M., and Gschwend, Ph., Willey, 2002: Chapter 6.4: Air-Water Partitioning Chapter 19.2: Bottleneck Boundaries Ground water: Fitts, C.R., 2013. Groundwater Science. 2nd ed., Academic Press, Amsterdam. Optional additional readers. Park, Ch., 2001, The Environment, Routledge, 2001 Fetter, C.W. 'Applied Hydrogeology', Prentice Hall, 1994 (3rd edition).

General Information

Language
English
Levels
MSC
Frequency
Semesterly recurring

Examination

Type
graded semester performance
Oral examination.

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
revision course / private study Hydrosphere
Self-study course. No presence required. Please contact Dr. Rolf Kipfer for further information.
No time listed 90 h semesterly

Offered In