Tracer Hydrology and Flow Systems Analysis (WSE/HWR/08/e)

Approved BSc degree and basic hydraulics/hydrology, earth sciences, hydrogeology, surface hydrology, water quality, and data collection/groundwater exploration/monitoring subjects; or appropriate water engineering subject

Upon completion of this module, the student has:

• background and application knowledge of the concepts of tracer hydrology, with emphasis on environmental isotopes;
• background and application knowledge of the concept of hydrochemical facies analysis;
• gained practical experience in independently using these methodologies to qualitatively adn quantitatively assess hydrological processes and their interactions in flow systems; and
• the ability to carry out comprehensive hydrological flow systems analyses in surface water and groundwater systems in different hydro-climatic regions and geological conditions.

Flow System Analysis (J.W. Foppen,)
Introduction: definitions, use of Systems Analysis in practice, examples;
Characteristics of the natural flow field: Toth’s description of Groundwater Flow Systems,
Hydrochemical Facies Analysis: Defining the facies and classification of water types, indexes and temperature, identification of groundwater origin, mapping and interpretation;
Spreadsheet exercises and introduction to HYCA software.
Tracer Hydrology (S. Uhlenbrook, J. Wenninger, P. Aggarwall (IAEA, Vienna, Austria))
This course treats different methods to analyse and assess hydrological flow systems. Special attention will be given to hydro-chemical and tracer hydrological approaches (incl. environmental isotopes) to delineate flow systems and understanding flow patterns in the environment. The use of tracer techniques will illustrate the determination of flow pathways, residence times of the water, and the hydraulic properties of flow systems and the mixing of different water compartments. The learning objectives will be achieved through class lectures explaining background and methodologies, practical application exercises, which are to be worked out as assignments, and group exercises.

• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Isotope Hydrology, CD-Rom, 2005
• Foppen, J-W., Regional Hydrological Systems Analysis, Lecture notes, 2006
• Uhlenbrook, S., Tracer Hydrology, UNESCO-IHE, Lecture notes (PPT, papers), 2009.

• J.W.A. Foppen, PhD, MSc
• Prof. S. Uhlenbrook, PhD, MSc