This course aims to describe and explain:

• The physical principles and processes that govern hydrology, with special reference to Canadian and cold regions conditions.
• Mass and energy balance calculations and their application in hydrology.

On completion of this course, students should be able to:

• Describe the principal hydrological processes active in Canadian and cold regions contexts
• Assess the effects of variable boundary conditions on hydrology
• Apply coupled energy and mass balance equations to calculate hydrological fluxes including runoff and streamflow.

The principles governing hydrological processes in Canadian and other cold regions river basins will be discussed including precipitation, interception, energy balance, snow accumulation, snowmelt, glaciers, evaporation, evapotranspiration, infiltration, soil-water and groundwater movement, surface water storage, runoff generation, streamflow routing, river ice and hydraulics. These processes will be framed within the context of distinctly Canadian river basin features such as mountains, glaciers, peatlands, forests, prairies, agricultural fields, tundra, ponds, lakes, rivers, river ice and frozen ground. Students will be exposed to an overview of each subject, with recent scientific findings and new cutting-edge theories, tools and techniques. They will complete numerical and essay assignments to develop skills in problem solving and in synthesizing complex hydrological concepts. Students will emerge from the course with a deeper understanding of physical hydrological processes and how they interact to produce river basin water budgets and streamflow response.

The course is intended for hydrology and water resources graduate students and early to midlevel career water resource engineers, hydrologists, aquatic ecologists and technologists who are either working directly in hydrology and water resources or are looking to broaden their understanding of hydrological systems and processes. This physical science course is quantitative in nature and so a firm foundation in basic calculus and physics at the first-year university level and some undergraduate hydrology or hydraulics training is strongly recommended.

Important note: The University of Saskatchewan is an English speaking institution, and all lectures and materials will be offered in English. It is expected that all registrants will be proficient in written and spoken English.

The course has been featured in an issue of Water News. Click the issue cover below to view the feature and learn more about the course.

Lectures will be held in an intensive 11-day period at the Biogeoscience Institute, Barrier Lake Field Station, Kananaskis Valley, Alberta starting on the morning of Tuesday, 31 October 2023 (arrive 30 October). Lectures will be up to three 90 min. sessions per day. Lectures begin 0830h on 31 October and end at 4:00 pm, 10 November. There is a break from 1000h to 1030h and lunch is at 1200h. Afternoon lectures resume at 1330h with completion generally by 1500h. Dr. Pomeroy and a CWRA representative will be available on site during the course and by email afterwards, individual instructors will be available for portions of the course corresponding to their lecture day and at least one other day. The final exam will take place online at a date to be determined. There will be three outdoor laboratory sessions.

1. An instrumented site visit to Marmot Creek Research Basin, Kananaskis on 1 November in the afternoon.
2. A demonstration of sensors and snow surveying techniques the afternoon of 7 November.
3. A stream gauge site and hydroelectricity facility on the nearby Kananaskis River on 9 November.

These outdoor laboratories are in remote mountain locations but near to roads, they do not have avalanche risks and do not require more than normal physical fitness and outdoor awareness. The site at Marmot Creek Research Basin will be a 15 min walk in from the bus along a level trail at 1400 m elevation. The stream gauge site is 15 min walk with a small hill from the Barrier Lake Field station. The forecast for these sites can be found here and here, and current weather conditions from our weather stations can be found here.

If you have medical issues that will affect you on these field trips please contact Professor Pomeroy to discuss beforehand.

The closed book final examination (2 hour) will be given online on Canvas a few weeks after the course. Exercises and literature review are due one month after they are assigned and are submitted electronically to Dr. Pomeroy via the Canvas system.

NOTE: you must work independently and originally in all assignments and examinations, cite appropriately in submitted essay material and follow the University of Saskatchewan Guidelines for Academic Conduct and Academic Integrity.

There is no formal textbook assigned for this course, but students are highly encouraged to obtain access to the following text for use in the course.

Physical Hydrology, 3rd Edition, S.L. Dingman, 2014:
Waveland Press, Long Grove, IL, ISBN 978-1-47861-118-9
(https://www.waveland.com/browse.php?t=382

Readings will be provided via Canvas.

Marks will be:

• 20% final exam
• 30% literature review on a hydrological process selected in consultation with Dr. Pomeroy
• 50% quantitative exercises
  1. micrometeorology and evapotranspiration
  2. groundwater hydrology
  3. snow accumulation, glaciers and melt
  4. soil and hillslope hydrology
  5. river basin hydrology and hydraulics including river ice

Non-credit (audit) students must complete the quantitative exercises and attend all lectures and field excursions. Those taking the course for university credit must complete all assignments, the literature review and the final examination.

Contact Information
Professor John Pomeroy john.pomeroy@usask.ca
Coldwater Laboratory, 1151 Sidney Street, Canmore 403 679 1425 (personal phone)
or 403 678 0579 (general office phone – emergencies during daytime)
or
Centre for Hydrology, 101-121 Research Drive, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon 306 966 1426
or Joni Onclin in Saskatoon, office 306 966 1427

Canadian Society for Hydrological Sciences (CSHS)

All participants are encouraged to join or be a member of the CSHS (https://cwra.org/en/membership/individual). Once you complete the course, CSHS will provide a Certificate of Attendance.

CSHS fees will cover all logistic costs (accommodation, meals, etc.) at the Barrier Lake Field Station.

CSHS Registration

A bus will leave Calgary Airport to Barrier Field Station on Oct 30, please coordinate your arrival if you require transportation.

Applying for Admission at USask

All participants must apply for admission as a graduate student with the University of Saskatchewan if they are not already a graduate student at the U of S or another Canadian institution.

USask PDF’s will contact CGPS/PDF Coordinator for internal admission.

Tuition and student fees will vary depending on citizenship and whether a participant is taking the course for credit or audit.

2023-24 tuition and fees will be posted in June 2023. 

If you would like to request transfer of credit to your home institution, please order your transcript for the course directly through your PAWS account or this link.

For further information...

• For questions about course content - Prof. John Pomeroy (john.pomeroy@usask.ca)
• For CSHS-related matters - Amber Penner (amber.r.penner@gmail.com)
• For queries related to registration - Joni Onclin (joni.onclin@usask.ca)
• For information related to switching from credit to audit - U of S Student Central (askus@usask.ca, or phone 1-877-650-1212)
  • Note: it is important to use your USask email address.