CSI 656/EVPP 652/GEOG 570 The Hydrosphere (3:3:0)

Instructors:

Long Chiu, Coordinator, ST-1 Rm 211, lchiu@gmu.edu, Tel: 703-993-1984 

Barry Klinger, bklinger@mason.gmu.edu, Tel: 301-902-1271

Wednesday 7:20-10:00 PM (First Class 8/27/2003)

Science and Technology I Rm 206

Course Description: This course is concern with the components and transfer processes within the hydrosphere. The hydrosphere consists of the aqueous envelope of Earth, including the oceans, lakes, rivers, snow, ice, glaciers, soil moisture, ground water, and atmospheric water vapor. Students get an understanding of the various components of the hydrosphere, their spatial and temporal distributions, the physics of the transfer processes for redistribution, and an appreciation of the role of water in sustaining life and influencing the global and regional energy and mass balance.

Prerequisites: Two semesters of calculus (partial differential equations recommended) or permission of instructor.

Syllabus

Introduction to the hydrosphere (Dingman Chap 1 and Appendix A)

Overview of global hydrological components

Conservation laws and regional water balance

Estimation of ET: an example

HW#1 (Dingman #2-1, #2-2, #2-3)

Energy and Water Cycle (Dingman Chap 2, Appendix  B1-2, D1)

Radiation in the Atmosphere

The global energy cycle

Simple energy balance model

Statistical concepts in space/time estimation

HW#2 (Dingman #3-1, #3-2, #3-3)

Global hydrological cycle (Dingman Chap 3, Appendix C)

oceanic evaporation

Climate changes in water and energy cycles

Planetary fluid dynamics

Properties of a fluid at rest: hydrostatics

Properties of a fluid in motion: hydrodynamics

Effects of rotation

Convection and turbulence

Estimation of precipitation

The oceanic mixed layer  (lKlinger)

Properties of sea water

Temperature, salinity, mixing

Equation of state

The Ekman layer

Ocean Waves and tides (Klinger)

Surface and Gravity waves

Inertial and internal waves

Rossby waves

Kelvin waves

Lunar and Solar tides

Large scale circulation of the ocean  (Klinger)

Wind driven ocean circulation

Thermohaline circulation and formation of water masses

Fresh water effect on ocean circulation

Transport of fresh water and heat

Chemistry of the oceans  (Klinger)

Chemical composition of sea water

Ocean/atmospheric exchange of gases, e.g. CO2

Ocean chemistry

The deep ocean

(Midterm Exam: 1 hour, close book)

Cryosphere 

Glaciers

Sea ice

Effects on mass transport and polar energy balance

Albedo-temperature feedback

Exchange at the atmosphere-land interfaces 

Evaporation and transpiration

Snow and Soil Moisture 

-     Snowpack and snowmelt

Soil moisture and surface/atmosphere exchange

Fresh Water 

Surface, stream water

Ground water infiltration and transport

Rainfall-runoff 

Catchment hydrology

Flood and drought

Ocean and life  (Summers)

Phytoplankton

Effects on chemical state of ocean

Carbonates, clays and exchange reactions, CCD

Short term variability and long term changes (Summers)

-     Short term changes due to ocean/atmosphere/land interactions

Long term changes in oceanic circulation

Sudden changes, e.g., the Younger Dryas

Anthropogenic forcing, e.g. CO2 and oceanic chemical pollution

Text:Dingman, S. Lawrence, 2002: Physical Hydrology, Prentice Hall, 646 pp.

Grade: Homework 40%, Mid-term 30%, Final 30%.