Macalester College Geology Department

GEOL 394 - Surface and Groundwater Hydrology

Instructor: Kelly MacGregor
Level: Advanced
Offered: Spring (Topics Course)

Hydrology is the study of physical, chemical, and biological processes that occur as water interacts with the earth. In this course we will focus on the near-surface cycling of water and the physical processes that drive this motion. We will discuss the dynamics of water as it flows across the surface of the landscape, moves through channels, and passes into the shallow subsurface. Open channel flow, hydrographs, floods, and arid region water scarcity will be the focus of the first portion of the course. The bulk on the course will look at the flow of water through permeable, saturated media, heterogeneity of flow, and several equations used to describe flow dynamics in aquifers. Flow through fractured and karst systems will be discussed. Importantly, we will spend time on the methods used by scientists and engineers (and consultants!) to understand the details and timescales of groundwater flow: wells, slug tests, pump tests, and geochemistry. Contaminant transport via groundwater flow will be examined in case studies. The use of quantitative tools such as calculations, numerical modeling, and estimation will be used heavily to better understand the dynamics of water transport on our planet.

My area of expertise is glacial geomorphology of alpine systems, as well as sediment transport in fluvial settings. My work on glaciers has focused on water transport (both within glaciers) and in the proglacial zone (open channel flow). I also spent three years after college working as an environmental geologist for a consulting firm in New Jersey, working on Superfund site investigations. The course will focus on the inner workings of rivers and groundwater flow dynamics, with an eye toward case studies that highlight the relevance of a quantitative understanding of these topics. I will also be teaching you the ‘tools of the trade’ – how to collect groundwater table elevation data, sampling from wells, slug and pump tests to determine aquifer properties, and generally how to make observations and measurements in the field, and how to display data for further interpretation. In addition, we will be delving into scientific, popular, and industry literature – learning how to read, understand, and discuss articles, manuscripts and reports. A final note: hydrology can be a VERY quantitative science – you will learn to use math to describe how nature works. This can be challenging, but I promise it is rewarding to understand the physical processes responsible for the world around us!