Field Instruction in Surface-Water Hydrology – Not a Summer

CourseSteve Custer

Earth SciencesMontana State University

Bozeman, MT406 994 6906

scuster@montana.eduhttp://www.homepage.montana.edu/~uessc/esci432/432labsyllabusmatrix.html

Where does field instruction occur?

• I usually think of – Summer geology field course– Summer hydrogeology field course– Summer hydrology field course

BUT-- field instruction can also take place as part

of courses during the academic year

What do field exercises in an AY course on hydrology do for the

student?• Measurement Techniques• Direct experience with measurement error• Computation• Analysis• Questioning reported data• Encourage critical thinking• Operational understanding of hydrologic

concepts

ERTH 432 Surface Water Resources

• Fall Course, Alternate Years• 20 students• Students work in groups of about three• This course is a research class in our core

curriculum• The course includes traditional laboratory

exercises as wellhttp://www.homepage.montana.edu/~uessc/esci432/432labsyllabusmatrix.html

Field Exercises I

• Graf Park– Peg Test– Precision Level Channel Survey– String Level Channel Survey

• Slope• Particle Size

– Channel Mapping– Group Data Sharing– Analysis– Writing

Field Exercises II

• Field Exercises At Other Locations– Gage House/Recurrence Interval/Bank full – Vertical Velocity Profile– Stream Discharge– Flood Plain Field Trip

• There are other laboratory exercises on campus after the snow flies.

Graf Park Exercise

• Questions:– Has the channel changed? (Focus on cross

section).– Stream classification

• Slope, width, depth, bank full stage, sinuosity, particle size

– Written report (Group collaboration; Writing; Discussion; Data; Evidence):

Graf Park Study Area

Close to Campus

N

1 MileCampus

Park

Auto-Level Cross Section Survey at +60

String Method of Cross Section Measurement

Simple, inexpensive, rapid

Measure Slope –Carpenter Level

Also use Tape and hand level on Jacob Staff w/ Stadia Rod

Stream Map – Grid Line

Also use tape and compass

Example Student Map.

Different groups attached at cross section.

Students can compare sinuosity measured by tape with that measured from map.

Example Cross Section from 1998-2006

Change in position and in channel area.

Cross sections also allow measurement of

• Bank-full width• Bank-full depth• Entrenchment ratio• Width/depth ratio

Graf Park Exercise– Measurement Experience– Good Data/Bad Data– Good Reporting/Bad Reporting– Hypothesis testing– Reach a conclusion– Report on experiment

Assess Bank Full Height 80 years Record

Vertical Velocity Profile

Stream discharge is measured the following week as well as slope.

Stream Discharge Field Data Can Be Used to Teach Hydraulics

If Slope Is Measured• Velocity, Depth, Width, Discharge, Slope u d w Q S• Compute For Example

– Shear Stress– Stream Power Per Unit Length– Stream Power Per Unit Width– Friction (Roughness)– Froude Number

This course has also been done via distance education

• Master of Science in Science Education• Taught to Middle School and High School

teachers.• Teachers develop exercises where they

live.– Same principles discussed for the University

Course. – Increases relevance to students and teachers

as well (real data from a familiar place).

I do not visit the sites

• Assessment through discussion, photographs, measurements and computations from field data

• Reasonableness of the reported data and analysis.