SYLLABUS for Environmental Measurements in Natural Systems (CE 320-4) SPRING 2004 Purpose: To introduce students in science and engineering to complexities and challenges associated with characterization and measurements of environmental processes in natural systems. To provide hands-on experiences with selection of measurement strategies and sensing technologies; sampling network and protocol design; and deployment, acquisition and interpretation of measurements. To enhance problem-solving skills and motivate student experiences by means of real-life laboratory and field experiments and class projects. Instructor: Dr. Dani Or CAST 313 Phone: (860) 486-2768 E-mail:[email protected] Jon Drasdis CAST 203 Phone: (860) 486-3211 E-mail:[email protected] Office Hours: Monday 3:00-4:00 CAST 313 Time: Class: Tuesday Lab: Thursday 1:00-3:00PM CAST 201 1:00-4:00PM CAST 101 Text: Class notes and handouts Grades: 50% on Lab Reports 30% on Group Project 20% on Final Examination Scale: A>90%; B=80-89%; C=70-79%; D=60-69%; F<60% Homework & Lab Reports: Homework is due in class on Monday, 1 week after being assigned. Lab reports are due at the beginning of the following lab session. Lecturers: Amine Dahmani (Longley Building, phone: 486-2781) John Fikiet (UTEB 274, phone: 486-2439) Prof. Bagtzoglou (CAST 327), phone: 203-251-8430)Prof. Robbins (BEACH 211, phone: 486-1392) Prof. Liu (BEACH 213, phone: 486-1388) Prof. Ogden (CAST 309, phone: 486-2771) Prof. MacKay (CAST 314, phone: 486-2450) Prof. Holmén (CAST 311, phone: 486-3941) Prof. Anagnostou (CAST 308, phone: 486-6806) Laboratory Reports: Reports are due one week after conducting the Lab experiment. Report write-up should be neat and concise (4-6 pages, excluding graphs), try to adhere to the following format: Title - (don't forget your name and date). Introduction - A brief discussion of the topic and the lab's objectives. Materials and Methods - Keep it short, there is no need to repeat handout information, only deviation from it. Results - Include tables of raw and/or transformed data; equations and graphs. Discussion - Take some time and think! Check if results make sense (no negative weights please); explain their significance and the associated physical process; integrate concepts from class; discuss assumptions and limitations. Literature Cited - List in alphabetical order literature you have consulted and mentioned in the report. Topical Issues: o Common Themes and Structures: 1. Introduction to theoretical aspects of the physico-chemical processes; survey of measurement technologies and practices; discussion of experimental objectives and available resources; experiments by student groups, analyses and reporting. 2. Specific topics will be presented by experts in the field. o Natural and Engineered Surface Water Quality - sampling, characterization, and monitoring. (drinking water/waste water treatment plant, MyPond, large scale surface water sampling and analyses). o Characterization of Subsurface Flow and Structural Properties - Direct sampling (introduction to HydroProbe capabilities and operation - ERI), textural and other characterization, laboratory and field measurements; Geophysical methods for non-invasive characterization (Prof. Liu); measurements in deep formations (Prof. Robbins); water content and matric potential measurements. o Flux Measurements - Laboratory experiments - infiltration in well-equipped soil columns, gaseous fluxes through partially-saturated soil columns. Field measurements - infiltration and infiltrometers; in-situ CO2 flux measurements (gradient and Li-Cor systems). o Atmospheric Measurements - Near-surface radiation and energy balance principles, methods & issues of footprint etc. (lecture on Bowen ratio and eddy covariancemethods). Setup and operation of standard radiation and energy balance station (radiation, wind speed, relative humidity, soil heat flux). o Air Quality Sampling - Theoretical aspects, sampling in natural and engineered environments, ERI operational perspective, principles and methods (guest lecture - Prof. Holmen). o Class Projects: (1) Design and deployment of a monitoring system (Phase I); (2) Remote acquisition and real-time interpretation (Phase