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2018/19 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

GEOG5530M River basin management for water quality

15 creditsClass Size: 30

Module manager: Dr Pippa Chapman
Email: p.j.chapman@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2018/19

Module replaces

GEOG5810M Discharge Sediment and solute

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module addresses key issues in river and river basin management at local, regional and international scales. It delivers knowledge and understanding of the key factors that determine the physical and chemical properties of rivers. It achieves this through lectures, field work and laboratory practicals. An appreciation of the linkage between river basin characteristics and sediment and solute sources and fluxes and their impact on water quality is emphasised. A range of management options for reducing nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) loss from soil to rivers are considered. Skills in the use of field and laboratory equipment for the analysis of water samples will be developed.

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should be able to ...
1. Acquire a knowledge and understanding of the key factors that determine the physical and chemical properties of rivers in a range of environments.
2. Appreciate the linkage between river basin characteristics and sediment and solute sources and fluxes and their impact on water quality.
3. Gain a knowledge and understanding of a range of management options for reducing nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) loss from soil to rivers.
4. Acquire new/increased skills in the use of field and laboratory equipment for the analysis of water samples.
5. Appreciate the key issues in river and river basin management on local, regional and international scales.

Learning outcomes
By the end of this module, students will have;
A knowledge and understanding of the key factors that determine the physical and chemical properties of rivers.
An appreciation of the linkage between river basin characteristics and sediment and solute sources and fluxes and their impact on water quality.
A knowledge and understanding of a range of management options for reducing nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) loss from soil to rivers.
New/increased skills in the use of field and laboratory equipment for the analysis of water samples.
An appreciation of key issues in river and river basin management at local, regional and international scales.


Syllabus

Typically, the syllabus will include:
Welcome, programme and module overview.
Fundamentals of river basin hydrology and river hydraulics
River basin management issues overview and carbon management overview.
River basin management issues legislation.
Two days of field work skills for environmental data collection.
Skills in environmental data analysis.
River basin dynamics and channel stability issues.
Skills in river flood modelling using statistics; the flood estimation handbook (FEH), an industry-standard 1D hydraulic model; ISIS, and a cutting-edge 2D model; Delft3d.
Visits to and visits from the water industry to discover current issues of concern, including international and regional organisations and public and private companies.

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Fieldwork18.008.00
Lecture82.0016.00
Practical16.006.00
Private study hours120.00
Total Contact hours30.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)150.00

Private study

Private study and independent learning will include:
Wider reading around lectures
Reading and preparation of essay
Reading and preparation of field report

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
Essay2000 words50.00
ReportBased on field day, 2000 words50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 11/05/2017

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