GEO2010 – Surface hydrology
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
The course, together with GEO3020 – Soil- and groundwater (discontinued), covers the water balance of the land surface and introduces the most important components of the hydrological cycle. GEO2010 gives an introduction to the surface components of the hydrological cycle, and discusses meteorological data, snow and snowmelt, runoff, hydrological characteristics of the basin and hydrological models. The material on Extreme value estimation for floods and droughts is briefly introduced. While the focus of the course is principally on the hydrologic cycle in the context of Earth System Processes.
Learning outcome
To provide a basic understanding of the surface components of the hydrological cycle and to understand the link between meteorological and hydrological processes. In addition to give the student experience in the use of hydrological observations and enable her/him to perform basic hydrological calculations using Python.
Admission
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
In addition to fulfilling the Higher Education Entrance Qualification, applicants have to meet the following special admission requirements:
-
Mathematics R1 (or Mathematics S1 and S2) + R2
And in addition one of these:
- Physics (1+2)
- Chemistry (1+2)
- Biology (1+2)
- Information technology (1+2)
- Geosciences (1+2)
- Technology and theories of research (1+2)
The special admission requirements may also be covered by equivalent studies from Norwegian upper secondary school or by other equivalent studies (in Norwegian).
The following courses must be taken before the first lecture in GEO2010:
- HMS0504 – Field Safety OR MNHMS0015FS – Introduction to Field Safety (discontinued)
- HMS0505 – Electricity Safety
For students taking GEO2010 spring 2015 or later, to have GEO2010 included in your degree you must first pass the following HSE courses:
- MNHMS0015 – Introduction to Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) (discontinued) OR HMS0501 – Safety and Physical Environment and HMS0502 – Positive Learning Environment and HMS0507 – Fire Safety
- HMS0504 – Field Safety OR MNHMS0015FS – Introduction to Field Safety (discontinued)
Recommended previous knowledge
MAT1000 – Mathematics for applications I (discontinued) or similar mathematical knowledge, GEO1030 – Winds, currents and climate (discontinued)
Overlapping courses
- 8 credits overlap with GEO2330 – Hydrology
- 10 credits overlap with HYD2010 – Surface hydrology (discontinued)
100% overlap with GF-GG141 when taken with HYD2020 – Soil- and groundwater hydrology (discontinued) / GEO3020 – Soil- and groundwater (discontinued)
Teaching
The course is scheduled with 4 lectures per week and 2 hours of exercises / seminar per week. There will be visits to relevant institutions (eg NVE, Statkraft or Norwegian Meteorological Institute). Active participation from the students are expected in project work, and may include an oral seminar presentation or the like. Activities included in the project work count towards the final grade.
There is a compulsory snow excursion (date for this depends on snow conditions), as well as participation for up to one week field course together with the course GEG2110. From the field course, a field report must be written, and this counts towards the final grade
Attendance at the first lecture is compulsory. Students who fail to meet, are considered to have withdrawn from the course unless they have previously given notice to the Studies administration, email address: studieinfo@geo.uio.no
To attend the course it is required that the following courses must be taken before the first lecture:
- HMS0504 – Field Safety OR MNHMS0015FS – Introduction to Field Safety (discontinued)
- HMS0505 – Electricity Safety
You will need to provide documentation that you have passed HMS0504 when you attend the first lecture.
General information about excursions at the Dept. of Geosciences.
As the teaching involves laboratory and/or field work, you should consider taking out a separate travel and personal risk insurance. Read about your insurance cover as a student.
Examination
- The field report and project work (oral presentation or similar) counts in combination 40%.
- Final written examination (3 hours) counts for 60%.
- All parts have to be passed separately.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are offered a postponed examination at the beginning of the next semester.
Re-scheduled examinations are not offered to students who withdraw during, or did not pass the original examination.
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
It will also be counted as one of the three attempts to sit the exam for this course, if you sit the exam for one of the following courses: HYD2010 – Surface hydrology (discontinued), GEO2330 – Hydrology
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.