University of Saskatchewan Centre for Hydrology/ Canadian Society for Hydrological Sciences

CSHS Kananaskis Short Course on Principles of Hydrology

University of Saskatchewan Graduate Class: Geography 827, Principles of Hydrology

February 28 to March 11, 2011 – University of Calgary Biogeoscience Institute, Kananaskis Valley, Alberta


Online registration has closed.

Registration is now closed as the course is now full. Please contact Christopher Spence (chris.spence@ec.gc.ca) or John Pomeroy (john.pomeroy@usask.ca) if you would like to be placed on a waiting list.


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 and Department of Geography and Planning 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 Canadian landscape features such as mountains, peatlands, agricultural fields, forests, lakes and frozen ground. Students will be exposed to an overview of each subject, with recent scientific findings and 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 February 28 – March 11, 2011. 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 from Canada 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.

Instructors and Preliminary Lecture Schedule

Day Topic Instructor
1/2 Fundamentals and principles Dr. John Pomeroy, University of Saskatchewan
3 Precipitation & Snow Hydrology Dr. John Pomeroy, University of Saskatchewan
4 Interception & Evapotranspiration Dr. Richard Petrone, Wilfred Laurier University
5 Infiltration & Soil Water Dr. Charles Maule, University of Saskatchewan
6 Groundwater Hydrology Dr. Edwin Cey, University of Calgary
7 Hillslope and Catchment Hydrology Dr. Sean Carey, Carleton University
8 River Networks & Hydrographs Dr. Kevin Shook, University of Saskatchewan
9 River Hydraulics and Ice Dr. Alain Pietroniro, Environment Canada
10 Final exam (credit students only)

Contact Hours and Schedule

Lectures will be held during an intensive 10 day period at the Biogeoscience Institute, Barrier Lake Field Station, Kananaskis Valley, Alberta starting February 28, 2011. Dr. Pomeroy will be available on site during the whole 10 days 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 will be evaluated with a final exam (20%), a literature review (30%) on a hydrological process selected in consultation with Dr. Pomeroy, and four quantitative exercises (12.5% each for 50%). These include:
i) precipitation and snowmelt (assigned Day 3);
ii) interception, evapotranspiration and infiltration (assigned Day 5);
iii) hillslope and groundwater flow and storage (assigned Day 7);
iv) river networks, hydraulics and hydrographs (assigned Day 9).
Audit students are only required to complete the 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 who satisfactorily complete the assignments and attend all lectures will receive a certificate stating they have completed the course. All others will receive a certificate stating they have 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 link 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 also register with the University of Saskatchewan. There are 2 different ways to register depending on if you are a registered graduate student in western Canada.

A. If you are a currently registered graduate student attending one of the following schools then you 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, University of Saskatchewan, Simon Fraser University, University of Regina, Royal Roads University, University of Victoria

The WDA form is found online at: http://grad.usask.ca/wcdgs/docs/wda_auth_reg.doc. The completed form can be sent to:

College of Graduate Studies and Research
University of Saskatchewan
Room C180 Administration Building,
105 Administration Place
Saskatoon SK S7N 5A2
Fax (306-966-5756)

B. 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:

i) Complete a GSR 105 form The class is GEOG 827.3 (02)(T2). The CRN is 28197, and the session is 201101.

ii) If applicable, complete the permission to audit form: On the form under step 1 and 2 write in 'Not Required'. http://students.usask.ca/pdf/sesd-pdfs-other-forms/audit.pdf

iii) Any forms that need to be signed by the Department of Geography and Planning can be scanned and emailed to phyllis.baynes@usask.ca OR faxed to 306-966-5680.

iv) 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 these to:

College of Graduate Studies and Research
University of Saskatchewan
Room C180 Administration Building,
105 Administration Place
Saskatoon SK S7N 5A2
Fax (306-966-5756)

Cancellations

Because of budgetary commitments cancelled registrants will only be refunded 50% of their tuition if cancellations are received in writing to the organizers before January 1, 2010. No refund will be possible after this date.

CSHS Student Travel Assistance

To apply for travel assistance from the CSHS please download and submit this form.