GEO4320 – Hydrological Modelling

After completing the course, you will be able to

• classify and evaluate hydrological data, set up and run hydrological models (e.g. HBV, WASMOD)
• solve groundwater flow equations analytically and numerically using a model tool (e.g. MODFLOW)
• evaluate water budgets and surface water - groundwater interactions
• process and prepare data files for different models and purposes:
  • in water resources assessment,
  • in impact estimation of climate change, land-use change
  • risk analysis and human impact
• interpret, analyse and understand model outputs

Both master's students and PhD candidates can take this course.

Students admitted at UiO must apply for courses in Studentweb. Students enrolled in other master's degree programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.

Nordic citizens and applicants residing in the Nordic countries may apply to take this course as a single course student.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures for international applicants.

PhD candidates from the University of Oslo should apply for classes and register for examinations through Studentweb. If a course has limited intake capacity, priority will be given to master's students who follow an individual education plan where this particular course is included.

The course has a max capacity of 20 students. If there are more than 20 applicants for the course, applicants will be ranked after the following categories:

1. Master's students in Geosciences admitted to one of the following programme options (not prioritized order):
   • Geosciences (master)
   • CS: Geoscience (programme option)
2. PhD candidates from the University of Oslo (MN-faculty)
3. Other students

Applicants will be ranked by the number of ECTS-credits within each category: all applicants within category 1 are ranked before applicants in category 2. If there are space limitations in the course, available places will be given to students selected randomly within the same category.

Based on experience, there is generally room for everyone who applies for admission to the course within the deadline.

• MAT1100 – Calculus / MAT1001 – Mathematics 1 (discontinued) or similar knowledge
• STK1000 – Introduction to Applied Statistics / STK1100 – Probability and Statistical Modelling or similar knowledge
• GEO4300 – Geophysical Data Science / GEO4310 – Stochastic methods in hydrology (continued) or similar knowledge
• Also, a background of bachelor's level courses in hydrology / meteorology / climatology / physical geography would be useful.

Teaching consists of lectures (4-6 hours) and computer practicals (2-4 hours) per week throughout the semester.

Following the hands-on experience in the practicals, you will be given two modelling assignments that each are to be handed in as a report. One of these must also be presented orally. All students are expected to participate actively in the oral presentation. Both reports must be handed in and will count towards the final grade, and the report that is presented orally will count more than the other report.

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 course responsible.

• One written report of a modelling assignment counts 20% towards the final grade.
• A second written report of a modelling assignment, which shall also be presented orally, counts 30% towards the final grade.
• A final written exam counts 50% towards the final grade.
• Both the two assignments, one with an oral presentation, and the final written examination must be passed separately in order to pass the course.

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 the following course:

• GEO9320

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.