University of Saskatchewan / Canadian Society for Hydrological Sciences

Kananaskis Short Course on Principles of Hydrology

Available for credit from the University of Saskatchewan as Geography 827

March 1-12, 2012 - Kananaskis Valley, Alberta

Course Objectives

This course aims to:

• Describe and explain the physical principles and processes that govern hydrology with special reference to Canadian conditions.
• Describe and explain mass and energy balance calculations and their application in hydrology.

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

a) describe the features of the primary Canadian hydrological processes
b) assess the effects of variable boundary conditions on hydrology
c) apply coupled energy and mass balance equations to calculate hydrological fluxes including runoff and streamflow.

Course synopsis

The University of Saskatchewan Centre for Hydrology with the assistance of the Canadian Society for Hydrological Sciences is offering an intensive course on the physical principles of hydrology with particular relevance to Canadian conditions. Factors governing hydrological processes in Canadian landscapes will be discussed including precipitation, interception, snow accumulation, snowmelt, evaporation, infiltration, groundwater movement and streamflow. These processes will be framed within the context of distinctly Canadian landscape features such as high mountains, peatlands, prairies, boreal forests and seasonally frozen ground. Students will be exposed to an overview of each subject, with recent scientific findings and new cutting edge theories, tools and techniques. They will complete numerical and essay assignments to develop skills in problem solving and in synthesizing complex hydrological concepts. Field examinations in nearby environments and research basins will enhance the learning experience. Students will emerge from the course with a deeper understanding of physical hydrological processes and how they interact to produce catchment water budgets and streamflow response.

The course will take place at the University of Calgary’s Biogeoscience Institute’s Barrier Lake Station in the Kananaskis Valley from March 1-12, 2012. The course will focus on classroom instruction, but will take advantage of the proximity to the Marmot Creek Research Basin to expose students to state of the art field instrumentation and measurement techniques. Each day will start with lectures on the primary subject, and include time to work on assigned exercises. Certain days will include a field work component to examine the processes and measurement techniques relevant to the lectures.

The course is intended for hydrology and water resources graduate students and early to midlevel career water resource engineers, hydrologists, aquatic ecologists and technologists who are either working directly in hydrology and water resources or are looking to broaden their understanding of hydrological systems and processes. This physical science course is quantitative in nature and so a firm foundation in calculus and physics at the first year university level and some undergraduate hydrology or hydraulics training is required. For further information please contact Dr. John Pomeroy (john.pomeroy@usask.ca) or Dr. Christopher Spence (chris.spence@ec.gc.ca).

Instructors and Preliminary Lecture Schedule

Contact Hours and Schedule

Lectures will be held in an intensive 10 day period at the Biogeoscience Institute, Barrier Lake Field Station, Kananaskis Valley, Alberta starting March 1, 2012. Dr. Pomeroy will be available on site during the whole period and by email afterwards, individual instructors will be available for portions of the course corresponding to their lecture day and the next day. The final examination (2 hour) will be given on the last day of the course. Exercises and literature review are due 4 weeks after completion of the course.

Marking and Evaluation

Students taking the course for credit will be evaluated with a final exam (20%), a literature review on a hydrological process selected in consultation with Dr. Pomeroy (30%), and five quantitative exercises (10% each for 50%). These include:

i) snow hydrology
ii) evapotranspiration and soil hydrology
iii) hillslope and groundwater hydrology
iv) river basin hydrology
v) river hydraulics

Audit students are only required to complete the five quantitative exercises.

All students are required to enroll in Geography 827 at the University of Saskatchewan in either an audit or credit capacity.

All students will receive a certificate recognizing their participation in the course. Those that satisfactorily complete the appropriate requirements will receive a certificate stating they have completed the course. All others will receive a certificate stating they attended the course.

Course Texts and Readings

Students are highly encouraged to purchase the following two texts for use at the course. Textbooks can be purchased through Amazon.com.

• Physical Hydrology, 2nd Edition, S.L. Dingman, Waveland Press, Long Grove, IL, 2008 (including CD) ISBN 978-1-57766-561-8
• The Surface Climates of Canada, W.G. Bailey, T.R. Oke and W.R. Rouse, 1997, Montreal: McGill-Queen's Univ Press.

Handouts based upon a revised Handbook on the Principles of Hydrology (Gray and Pomeroy) will be distributed at the course. Readings will be assigned for each topic and distributed via PAWS (the University of Saskatchewan web services for students) or at the course.

Registration

There are two parts to the course registration.

1.
Please follow this Principles of Hydrology short course to register and pay fees associated with facilities, course instruction, and meals and accommodation at the Biogeoscience Institute. These fees are $1750 (for professionals) or $800 (for currently registered undergraduate and graduate students). They also include a one year membership to the Canadian Society of Hydrological Sciences and Canadian Water Resources Association. This portion of the fee can be waived for current members.

2.
All participants must register with the University of Saskatchewan, class GEOG 827.3 (02) (T2). CRN is 28197, session is 201201. There are four registration options available and completed registration form(s) sent to the address below:

A. If you are a currently registered graduate student attending one of the following schools then complete the Western Dean's Agreement form. The Universities are: University of Alberta, Athabasca University, Brandon University, University of British Columbia, British Columbia Institute of Technology, University of Calgary, Concordia University College of Alberta, University of Lethbridge, University of Manitoba, University of Northern British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, Royal Roads University, University of Victoria.

The WDA form is found online at: www.usask.ca/hydrology/downloads/WDA_Form.pdf.

B. If you are a currently registered graduate student attending one of the following schools then

complete the Canadian Universities Graduate Transfer Agreement form. The Universities are: Brock University, Carleton University, Dalhousie University, University of Guelph, Lakehead University, Laurentian University, Université Laval, McGill University, McMaster University, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Université de Moncton, Mount Saint Vincent University, Université d’Ottawa, Université du Québec, Queen’s University, Ryerson University, Université de Sherbrooke, University of Toronto, Trent University, University of Waterloo, University of Western Ontario, Wilfrid Laurier University, York University.

Under the CUGTA, tuition and student fees will be paid to the University of Saskatchewan.

The CUGTA form is found online at: www.usask.ca/hydrology/downloads/Grad_Transfer_Agreement.pdf

C. If you are attending the University of Regina then complete the Saskatchewan University Graduate Agreement form.

Student fees may apply and paid to the University of Saskatchewan.

The SUGA form is found online at: http://www.usask.ca/cgsr/downloads/forms/SUGA.pdf.

D. If you are NOT attending one of the institutions listed above then you need to register as a non-degree graduate student. To do this you must submit the following:

1. Complete a GSR 105 form.
2. If applicable, complete the permission to audit form: On the form under step 1 and 2 indicate 'Not Required'. http://students.usask.ca/pdf/sesd-pdfs-other-forms/audit.pdf
3. Submit the GSR 105 form, the permission to audit form (if applicable), your university transcripts, and a non-refundable application fee of C$75 plus tuition of C$517.50 (if you wish to take the course for credit) or C$257.75 (audit) using this credit card form

Submit completed form(s) to:

Department of Geography and Planning
University of Saskatchewan

Room 125 Kirk Hall Building
117 Science Place
Saskatoon SK S7N 5C8

OR
Fax (306-966-5680)

All forms will be forwarded to the College of Graduate Studies and Research once signed by the Department Head in Geography and Planning.