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Unit of Study ERTH4001 - Hydrogeology (2023)

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Unit Snapshot

  • Enrolment information

    To succeed in this unit, you will need a good working knowledge of first-year level chemistry and geology, as well as a basic understanding of the hydrologic cycle. Some understanding of fluid mechanics would also be beneficial.

Unit description

Explores the science and management of groundwater systems by extending and applying knowledge of hydrology, geology and chemistry. Students will develop an advanced conceptual understanding, and skills in field investigation, laboratory analysis and computer modelling, of groundwater systems. Students will also learn to evaluate natural and anthropogenic impacts on groundwater sustainability, including impacts of climate change, and propose suitable management strategies.

Unit content

Groundwater and the hydrologic cycle

Aquifer characterisation

Groundwater hydrogeochemistry

Groundwater-surface water interactions

Field methods for groundwater investigations

Groundwater flow and contaminant transport

Groundwater management and protection

Availabilities

Not currently available in 2023

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

describe the properties of groundwater and its relationship with other parts of the hydrologic cycle

use different types of input data to characterise the type, number and nature of aquifer systems

evaluate and apply appropriate field and laboratory techniques to analyse and interpret the hydraulics, geophysics and geochemistry of groundwater systems

construct and interpret numerical models to simulate water movement and solute transport in groundwater systems

evaluate natural and anthropogenic impacts on sustainability of groundwater resources and propose appropriate management strategies.