Rolf Kipfer: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2016 |
Name | Prof. Dr. Rolf Kipfer |
Address | EAWAG Überlandstrasse 133 Abteilung Wasserresourcen und Trin 8600 Dübendorf SWITZERLAND |
Telephone | 044 823 55 30 |
Fax | 044 823 52 10 |
rolf.kipfer@usys.ethz.ch | |
Department | Environmental Systems Science |
Relationship | Adjunct Professor |
Number | Title | ECTS | Hours | Lecturers | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
701-0401-AAL | Hydrosphere Enrolment ONLY for MSc students with a decree declaring this course unit as an additional admission requirement. Any other students (e.g. incoming exchange students, doctoral students) CANNOT enrol for this course unit. | 3 credits | 6R | R. Kipfer, C. Roques | |
Abstract | Qualitative and quantitative understanding of the physical processes that control the terrestrial water cycle. Energy and mass exchange, mixing and transport processes are described and the coupling of the hydrosphere with the atmosphere and the solid Earth are discussed. | ||||
Objective | Qualitative and quantitative understanding of the physical processes that control the terrestrial water cycle. Energy and mass exchange, mixing and transport processes are described and the coupling of the hydrosphere with the atmosphere and the solid Earth are discussed. | ||||
Content | Topics of the course. Physical properties of water (i.e. density and equation of state) - global water resources Exchange at boundaries - energy (thermal & kinetic), gas exchange Mixing and transport processes in open waters - vertical stratification, large scale transport - turbulence and mixing - mixing and exchange processes in rivers Groundwater and its dynamics - ground water as part of the terrestrial water cycle - ground water hydraulics, Darcy's law - aquifers and their properties - hydrochemistry and tracer - ground water use Case studies - 1. Water as resource, 2. Water and climate | ||||
Lecture notes | In addition to the self-learning literature handouts are distributed. | ||||
Literature | Textbooks for self-studying. Surface water. 'Physics and Chemistry in Lakes', ed: Lerman, A., Imboden, D.M., and Gat, J., Springer Verlag, 1995: Chapter 4: Imboden, D.M., and Wüest, A. 'Mixing Mechanisms in Lakes' 'Environmental Organic Chemistry', ed: Schwarzenbach, R., Imboden, D. M., and Gschwend, Ph., Willey, 2002: Chapter 6.4: Air-Water Partitioning Chapter 19.2: Bottleneck Boundaries Ground water: Fetter, C.W. 'Applied Hydrogeology', Prentice Hall, 2002 (4th edition): Chapters 1 - 6, 8, 10, 11. Optional additional readers. Park, Ch., 2001, The Environment, Routledge, 2001 Price, M., 1996. Introducing groundwater. Chapman & Hall, London u.a. a) Park, Ch., 2001, The Environment, Routledge, 2001 b) Price, M., 1996. Introducing groundwater. Chapman & Hall, London u.a. | ||||
701-0401-00L | Hydrosphere | 3 credits | 2V | R. Kipfer, C. Roques | |
Abstract | Qualitative and quantitative understanding of the physical processes that control the terrestrial water cycle. Energy and mass exchange, mixing and transport processes are described and the coupling of the hydrosphere with the atmosphere and the solid Earth are discussed. | ||||
Objective | Qualitative and quantitative understanding of the physical processes that control the terrestrial water cycle. Energy and mass exchange, mixing and transport processes are described and the coupling of the hydrosphere with the atmosphere and the solid Earth are discussed. | ||||
Content | Topics of the course. Physical properties of water (i.e. density and equation of state) - global water resources Exchange at boundaries - energy (thermal & kinetic), gas exchange Mixing and transport processes in open waters - vertical stratification, large scale transport - turbulence and mixing - mixing and exchange processes in rivers Groundwater and its dynamics - ground water as part of the terrestrial water cycle - ground water hydraulics, Darcy's law - aquifers and their properties - hydrochemistry and tracer - ground water use Case studies - 1. Water as resource, 2. Water and climate | ||||
Lecture notes | In addition to the suggested literature handouts are distributed. | ||||
Literature | Suggested literature. a) Park, Ch., 2001, The Environment, Routledge, 2001 b) Price, M., 1996. Introducing groundwater. Chapman & Hall, London u.a. | ||||
Prerequisites / Notice | The case studies and the analysis of the questions and problems are integral part of the course. | ||||
701-1313-00L | Isotopic and Organic Tracers in Biogeochemistry | 3 credits | 2G | R. Kipfer, S. Ladd | |
Abstract | The course introduces the scientific concepts and typical applications of tracers in biogeochemistry. The course covers stable and radioactive isotopes, geochemical tracers and biomarkers and their application in biogeochemical processes as well as regional and global cycles. The course provides essential theoretical background for the lab course "Isotopic and Organic Tracers Laboratory". | ||||
Objective | The course aims at understanding the fractionation of stable isotopes in biogeochemical processes. Students learn to know the origin and decay modes of relevant radiogenic isotopes. They discover the spectrum of possible geochemical tracers and biomarkers, their potential and limitations and get familiar with important applications | ||||
Content | Geogenic and cosmogenic radionuclides (sources, decay chains); stable isotopes in biogeochemistry (nataural abundance, fractionation); geochemical tracers for processes such as erosion, productivity, redox fronts; biomarkers for specific microbial processes. | ||||
Lecture notes | handouts will be provided for every chapter | ||||
Literature | A list of relevant books and papers will be provided | ||||
Prerequisites / Notice | Students should have a basic knowledge of biogeochemical processes (BSc course on Biogeochemical processes in aquatic systems or equivalent) | ||||
701-1333-00L | Isotopic and Organic Tracers Laboratory | 3 credits | 4P | R. Kipfer, S. Ladd | |
Abstract | This course will illustrate how different tracers and isotopes are used in natural systems. Here especially the processes (transformation, timescales) that take place and can be revealed by tracers/isotopes will be demonstrated but also flux rates will be calculated using different tracers. | ||||
Objective | Students know how to use tracers/isotopes to investigate/understand ecosystems They will understand the methods and analytical devices related to tracer/isotope work Have a feeling for timescales on which natural processes occur Students will be able to apply different sampling techniques in aquatic sciences | ||||
Content | Basics: O,H isotopes as tracers for mixing in aquatic systems Carbon isotopes as tracer for methane oxidation 210Pb, 137Cs as a tracer for sedimentation rate/mixing SF6, Neon, He as tracers for exchange processes at the air/water interface Case assessment: Sampling of a Swiss lake (Rotsee) Sampling techniques for different elements Sample preparation for different techniques Measurements at isotope mass spectrometer/gamma counter Interpretation of results from the special sampling campaign and in a broader context |