EARTH231-22A (HAM)

Water Resources, Weather and Climate

15 Points

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Division of Health Engineering Computing & Science
School of Science
Earth Sciences

Staff

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Convenor(s)

David Campbell

David Campbell
5189
FG.3.02
See Moodle
david.campbell@waikato.ac.nz

Lecturer(s)

Administrator(s)

Placement/WIL Coordinator(s)

Tutor(s)

Student Representative(s)

Lab Technician(s)

Librarian(s)

: cheryl.ward@waikato.ac.nz

You can contact staff by:

  • Calling +64 7 838 4466 select option 1, then enter the extension.
  • Extensions starting with 4, 5, 9 or 3 can also be direct dialled:
    • For extensions starting with 4: dial +64 7 838 extension.
    • For extensions starting with 5: dial +64 7 858 extension.
    • For extensions starting with 9: dial +64 7 837 extension.
    • For extensions starting with 3: dial +64 7 2620 + the last 3 digits of the extension e.g. 3123 = +64 7 262 0123.
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Paper Description

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This paper investigates the key physical processes that influence the distribution of water in space and time in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Topics covered include atmospheric processes at a range of scales that ultimately affect the availability of water across Aotearoa’s diverse landscapes, including anticipated climate changes this century; a description of Aotearoa’s water resources and key hydrological processes acting on water and affecting its availability; and utilisation and modification of hydrological systems and processes by human activities.

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Paper Structure

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This paper is supported by learning resources accessed via Moodle.

The practicals are designed to promote an understanding of concepts introduced in lectures and to develop an ability to interpret atmospheric and hydrological patterns. The Weather Analysis assignment allows students the opportunity to develop skills in obtaining and interpreting publicly available weather information and combining it with their own observations and measurements made by the university's automatic weather station.

No assessment items are compulsory. However, completion of all practical assignments is essential towards achieving the paper's learning outcomes.


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Learning Outcomes

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Students who successfully complete the paper should be able to:

  • Describe the major atmospheric processes, from global-scale to local, that determine Aotearoa/New Zealand weather.
    Linked to the following assessments:
    • Online quiz 1 (1)
    • Online quiz 2 (2)
    • Lab 1 - Interpreting weather information (3)
    • Lab 2 - Atmospheric humidity (4)
    • Lab 3 - Adiabatic processes (5)
    • Lab 4 - NZ precipitation & flow regimes (6)
    • Report - Weather analysis (7)
    • Test (8)
    • Exam (9)
  • Collect and report on observations and measurements of weather variables and state, and explain their variation in time.
    Linked to the following assessments:
    • Lab 1 - Interpreting weather information (3)
    • Report - Weather analysis (7)
  • Describe the atmospheric portion of the hydrological cycle and how it interacts with the Aotearoa landscape to affect water availability in both time and space.
    Linked to the following assessments:
    • Lab 3 - Adiabatic processes (5)
    • Lab 4 - NZ precipitation & flow regimes (6)
    • Exam (9)
  • Explain how climate change, both natural and anthropogenic, has affected and may affect into the future, the availability of water resources in Aotearoa.
    Linked to the following assessments:
    • Exam (9)
  • Describe some of the major water resource elements within Aotearoa and the hydrological processes affecting storage and movement of water between them.
    Linked to the following assessments:
    • Lab 4 - NZ precipitation & flow regimes (6)
    • Test (8)
    • Exam (9)
  • Describe how a range of human activities affect water resources in Aotearoa.
    Linked to the following assessments:
    • Lab 4 - NZ precipitation & flow regimes (6)
    • Exam (9)
  • Analyse and report on rainfall and river discharge data in order to characterise differences in hydrological regimes from place-to-place.
    Linked to the following assessments:
    • Lab 4 - NZ precipitation & flow regimes (6)
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Assessment

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The Weather Analysis assignment is an individual project to be completed during one week of the semester nominated by each student. A report must be submitted using the Microsoft Word template document to be made available on Moodle.

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Assessment Components

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The internal assessment/exam ratio (as stated in the University Calendar) is 50:50. There is no final exam. The final exam makes up 50% of the overall mark.

The internal assessment/exam ratio (as stated in the University Calendar) is 50:50 or 0:0, whichever is more favourable for the student. The final exam makes up either 50% or 0% of the overall mark.

Component DescriptionDue Date TimePercentage of overall markSubmission MethodCompulsory
1. Online quiz 1
18 Mar 2022
8:00 PM
2.5
  • Online: Submit through Moodle
2. Online quiz 2
14 Apr 2022
8:00 PM
2.5
  • Online: Submit through Moodle
3. Lab 1 - Interpreting weather information
1 Apr 2022
1:00 PM
2
  • Other: Assessed in lab upon completion
4. Lab 2 - Atmospheric humidity
13 May 2022
5:00 PM
5
  • Online: Submit through Moodle
5. Lab 3 - Adiabatic processes
20 May 2022
5:00 PM
5
  • Online: Submit through Moodle
6. Lab 4 - NZ precipitation & flow regimes
10 Jun 2022
5:00 PM
8
  • Online: Submit through Moodle
7. Report - Weather analysis
15
  • Online: Submit through Moodle
8. Test
25 May 2022
11:00 AM
10
  • Hand-in: In Lecture
9. Exam
50
✔
Assessment Total:     100    
Failing to complete a compulsory assessment component of a paper will result in an IC grade
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Required and Recommended Readings

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Required Readings

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Study guide notes will be available on Moodle and should be read in conjunction with lectures.


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Recommended Readings

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More in-depth understanding of topics will be gained by reading suggested sections from the books:

Sturman, A.P. and Tapper, N.J., 2005. The Weather and Climate of Australia and NZ. Second edition. Available in the library.

Jellyman P.G. et al., 2016. Advances in Freshwater Science. Available in the library.

Other reading from selected sources will be provided via Moodle.

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Other Resources

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Copies of lecture PowerPoint slides and pdfs of practical worksheets will be available on Moodle.

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Online Support

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Online support will be provided via Moodle, which is accessible to all students who are enrolled in the paper.

Panopto recordings of lectures will be available on Moodle.


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Workload

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There will usually be two 50-minute lecture/discussion sessions per week. Students should review the relevant study guide material prior to each session. There will be four 2-hour labs where most tasks will be completed during class time. An individual "weather analysis" project will need to be undertaken outside of class time, including collecting weather observations and published weather information prior to completing a report template.

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Linkages to Other Papers

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Prerequisite(s)

Prerequisite papers: EARTH101 or ENVSC101 or ERTH103 or ERTH104 or ENVS101 or GEOG103

Corequisite(s)

Equivalent(s)

Restriction(s)

Restricted papers: ERTH245

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