This paper examines aspects of the hydrological cycle at a regional scale, focussing on catchments in the North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand. The paper is predominantly practical and involves the measurement and analysis of hydrological processes, emphasising precipitation, river flow and runoff processes, groundwater storage and recharge.

There will normally be two lectures and one 2-hour practical session per week. There will be a stand-alone lab in the first week. Then, over trimester weeks 2 to 7, the practical sessions operate on a rotation involving three groups. Not all groups need to attend every week. Assignment of students to groups will be made in week 1. There is also a one-day local field trip to collect river gauging data, on Saturday 30th July (backup day 6th August). The remaining practical sessions in weeks 10-13 will operate as whole-class exercises that require all students to attend. The lecture programme will support a deeper understanding of topics. A theory test will be held in week 14.

The practical programme is an important component of the paper and students should complete all assignments associated with these. There is an emphasis on the advanced use of Microsoft Excel for analysis of hydrological datasets, as well as on report writing.

There are no compulsory items of assessment in this internally-assessed paper, but all practical assignments, a theory test and the final exam contribute to the final grade.

The river discharge measurement assessment consists of three separate items. The class will be split into three groups and undertake these in a rotation; data collection for river and dilution gauging is undertaken on the weekend field trip. Data analysis occurs every second week, with one group collecting weir calibration data in each of the intervening weeks.

The submission dates for the components differ for each group as follows:

Three additional practical assignments associated with laboratory classes in week 1, weeks 10-11 and weeks 12-13 will be completed individually.

The theory test will occur during a lecture slot in week 14.

There are six marked practical assignments, a theory test in week 14, and a final exam. Practicals will typically be mostly completed in the lab sessions and finished in the student's own time if necessary. It is assumed that up to 60 hours will be spent in private study by an ‘average’ student.