280203 VU Groundwater and Vadose Zone Systems (2024S)

Students know the basics of soil formation, functions, and soil chemistry. They understand how soil and soil pore water properties influence the behavior and bio-availability of inorganic pollutants (FIAM and biotic ligand model). They are familiar with the characteristics of selected heavy metals (Hg, As, Pb, Cd) and can apply this knowledge to assess the behavior of other metals in soil. They know analytical methods to assess basic soil parameters and contamination of polluted sites. The students know the principal techniques for the remediation of soils contaminated with inorganic pollutants. The Students know the distribution, measurement, and analysis of the most important hydrogeological parameters, e.g. rainfall, discharge, and groundwater recharge. They know and can apply the equations for groundwater flow and transport in 3D space (Laplace, Poisson). They are familiar with analytical and numerical methods to solve flow and transport problems. They know how to process, analyze and interpret pumping test data and derive transmissivity and storage coefficients. They can build a simplified numerical 3D groundwater model and understand boundary conditions, numerical discretization, calibration, and validation of groundwater flow models and can solve easy flow problems themselves.