Teaching

Water is an essential part of our life. The quality of water we drink and use are in large part determined by the movement of water and the chemical and biological components it carried in natural aquatic ecosystems, such as lakes, rivers, and estuaries. In this course, we will learn to use simplified equations to model the physical processes in our natural aquatic environments, including the movement of water, chemicals, and microorganisms. We will also learn equations to model the chemical reaction, biological growth, and particulate/sediment transport in these environments.

Streams deliver water and transport solutes, organic matter, and sediment; interact with the adjacent floodplain and underlying groundwater; create habitats for animals; and supply food to animals and people. This course covers the physical and ecological processes in streams, including open channel flow, groundwater flow, sediment transport, channel geomorphology, fate and transport of nutrients and pollutants, ecology functions, and methods to restore streams.