Module Identifier WS30510  
Module Title ADVANCED HYDROLOGICAL SYSTEMS  
Academic Year 2002/2003  
Co-ordinator To Be Arranged  
Semester Semester 2  
Pre-Requisite GG31710 , WS20310  
Course delivery Lecture   10 x 1 hr  
  Practical   5 x 2 hrs  
Assessment Semester Exam   1 x 2 hr written examination   50%  
  Semester Assessment   Practical Report: 5 practical reports   50%  
  Supplementary Exam   Resubmission of failed problem sets and/or resit of failed end of semester examination.    

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module, students should be able to:
  1. Identify the correct simulation technique for a variety of hydrological problems at different scales and with varying data availability;
  2. Operate key examples of differing hydrological models from a range of lumped, semi-distributed and distributed models;
  3. Appreciate the limitations and restrictions that must be imposed on predictions from hydrological models.

Brief description

  1. Approaches to Simulating the Hydrological Cycle
  2. Data Availability, Land Description in Models
  3. Continuity of mass and energy and flow routing
  4. Lumped Basin Models
  5. The Beven/Kirkby 'Topmodel' Concept for Hillslopes
  6. Semi-distributed Models
  7. Fully Distributed Models
  8. Coupled Atmospheric/Hydrological Models
  9. Water Quality Models
  10. Limitations of Hydrological Simulation

Aims

This module is designed to provide students with a conceptual, factual and practical introduction to the functioning and prediction of complex hydrological systems, with particular reference to quantitative computer simulation of these systems as practiced by water management agencies in the UK and internationally. All components of the hydrological cycle will be considered, along with water quality models, lumped hydrological, semi-distributed hydrological, fully distributed hydrodynamic and the new generation of coupled atmospheric-hydrological flood prediction models.

Reading Lists

Books
** Recommended Text
Aldema, A.A. (ed.).. Computational Methods in Water Resources Volume 1. Computational Methods in Surface Flow and Transport Problems. J. Aparicio.
V.P. Singh (ed.).. Computer Models of Watershed Hydrology.. Water Resources Publications, New York.