Program Overview

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ELEMENTS OF HYDROLOGY AND APPLIED METEOROLOGY

Course Overview

Hydrology and meteorology represent two very important aspects in the Applied Geological Sciences. In particular, the proper assessment of the hydrological risk of a territory requires an adequate knowledge of the main processes occurring both in the atmosphere and within a hydrological basin and measuring techniques useful for monitoring the area in terms of precipitation and outflow.

Aims and Content

Learning Outcomes

The objectives of the training are to acquire the basics of meteorology, hydrology, and technical hydrology with particular regard to the study of atmospheric circulation and meteorological phenomena, the measurement of precipitation, the statistical analysis of rainfall variables, the morphometric characterization of the basin, and the study of the basin's hydrological balance equation, level, and flow rate measurements, and flood propagation.

Aims and Learning Outcomes

The course focuses on the following aspects:

• Knowledge of the main phenomena occurring in the atmosphere with particular regard to the formation of precipitation
• Knowledge of the main measurement techniques for the assessment and monitoring of precipitation
• Definition of the main characteristics of a hydrological basin
• Knowledge of the main processes occurring within the basin during the transformation of the outlet into the outflow
• Knowledge of the main techniques for correct assessment of hydraulic risk

At the end of the course, the student will have to know the main theoretical aspects related to meteorology and hydrology, to be able to describe at a theoretical level the main phenomena affecting the water cycle, and to know the most suitable methods and instruments to be used in the analysis.

Prerequisites

There are no specific requirements, but to take the exam of this course, it is necessary to have passed the following exams:

• Earth Sciences 8763 (cohort 2023/2024)
• Experimental Physics
• Experimental Physics with Applications to Earth Physics
• Physical Geography and Cartography
• Mineralogy
• Paleontology
• Geomorphology
• Geology
• English
• General and Inorganic Chemistry with Laboratory
• Elements of Mathematics

Teaching Methods

Lectures of the first semester will be carried out in the classroom. Practical activities will take place in the laboratory, with multiple shifts if necessary.

Syllabus/Content

The course covers the following topics:

• The atmosphere (composition, thermal balance, radiation measurement, vertical temperature distribution, air circulation)
• Precipitation (formation, classification, measurement, extreme events)
• Hydrographic basin (identification, classification, morphometric characteristics, coefficients of form, time of overflow, description of river geomorphology)
• Hydrologic Balance (inflow, basin loss, surface outflow, evaporation, evaporimeters, evapotranspiration, methods of measurement evapotranspiration, interception, infiltration: theoretical models and measurement methods)
• Surface outflows (flow and flow measurements, hydrometers and hydrometrographs, speed measurements in watercourses, flow rate calculations, flow rates, baseline analysis of hydrometric observations, analysis of the hydrographic program and full hydrography, Flow rate)
• The Propagation of overflow (translation and lamination, mathematical models: De Saint Venant equation)

Recommended Reading/Bibliography

• Notes distributed throughout the course
• "Idrologia: il ciclo dell'acqua e i suoi effetti" by Mauro Greppi (Ed: Hoepli)
• "Idrologia Tecnica" by Ugo Moisello (Ed: La Goliardica Pavese s.r.l.)

Teachers and Exam Board

• Teacher: Gabriele Ferretti
• Exam Board:
  • President: Gabriele Ferretti
  • Members: Simone Barani, Daniele Spallarossa (President Substitute), Marco Capello (Substitute)

Lessons

• Lessons start in October
• The class schedule will be provided separately

Exams

• Exam description: Oral examination (Oral interview)
• Assessment methods: The oral exam will verify the level of knowledge of the topics covered during the course through open questions. The assessment will be carried out on the basis of the knowledge gained, the quality of the exposure, the correct use of the specialized lexicon, and the critical reasoning capacity.

Further Information

Students with a certification of physical or learning disability can find information on support services at the university's website. They can also contact the Department's disability liaison for further assistance.