CE 479 Isotope Techniques In Hydrology

Credit Structure: (3-0)3

Catalog Description:
Definitions, types, environmental stable, unstable isotopes, radiation, detection, choice of isotopes in stream flow measurement. Isotopes in stream flow measurements. Isotopes in water balance studies of lakes and reservoirs. Isotopes in soil moisture studies. Isotopes in ground water hydrology: natural isotopes used in origin determination and dating of ground water, interaction of ground water with surface water, determination of aquifer characteristics and well-techniques.

Course Objectives:
The aim of this course is to teach isotopes, their types and the ways how they are used in various aspects of hydrology.

Prerequisites:
None

Textbook(s):
None

Reference(s):
A. Gunyakti, "Isotope Techniques in Hydrology", METU, Civil Eng. Dept., Ankara, 1992.
IAEA (International Atomic Energy Association), "Isotope Techniques in Water Resources Development", 1991.

Syllabus:
1. Introduction: Purpose and scope of the course, hydrologic cycle and state of water elements, advances in hydrology and isotope techniques
2. Stable and unstable isotopes: Definition and types of isotopes, environmental stable and unstable isotopes, radioactive decay and radiation types, detection of radiation in hydrologic investigations
3. Choice of isotopes and health considerations, environmental isotopes in precipitation: Source of atmospheric moisture, isotopic enrichment, delta values for deuterium and oxygen-18, temperature effect, altitude effect, latitude effect continental effect
4. Tritium in precipitation and its seasonal variation, sampling of rain and snow, snow hydrology, case studies
5. Isotopes in streamflow measurements: Tracer dilution techniques, injection, good mixing length, sampling and analysis
6. Choices of tracers in streamflow measurements, runoff analysis and hydrology separation, travel time, case studies
7. Isotopes in water balance studies of lakes and reservoirs: Stable isotopes in leakage determination and groundwater contributions
8. Radioactive isotopes and dye techniques in lake studies, leakage determination, turnover time computation and pollution potentiality
9. Case studies related with lakes and reservoir water budget elements
10. Isotopes in soil moisture studies: Water balance for unsaturated zone, stable isotopes in soil moisture movement, neutron probe, gamma ray techniques, recharge into aquifers
11. Isotope techniques in groundwater hydrology: Origin and characteristics of groundwater, classification of groundwater, aquifer characteristics, well techniques
12. Interaction of groundwater with surface water bodies, groundwater movement and flow velocity determination, dating of groundwater
13. Leakage between aquifers, groundwater in karstic zone, groundwater salinisation and saltwater intrusion. Case studies and review

Homeworks, Quizzes, Projects:
None

Computer Usage:
None

Laboratory Work:
None

Category Content:
Mathematics and Basic Sciences: 1 credit
Engineering Design: None
Engineering Sciences: 2 credits
Humanities & Social Sciences: None
Departmental: None

Instructors:
Ali Günyakti