ENVS8771 Ecohydrology GE

The exchanges of water between the atmosphere, vegetation and soil, are important in understanding vegetation growth, carbon fluxes, and water yield. These fluxes are closely related to and modified by human activities, and are sensitive to global climate change. This topic provides advanced quantitative description and modelling of the distribution and movement of water on land surface, particularly in the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum, including evapotranspiration and coupled water and carbon processes, at various scales. The knowledge and skills gained from the topic will be useful to understand and manage various land and water issues, such as dry-land salinity, groundwater recharge, plantation water allocation, ecosystem drought responses, carbon sequestration, and urban green infrastructures.

This topic aims to introduce an advanced knowledge of hydrology at the land-atmosphere interface.

1. Have advanced understanding of precipitation, evapotranspiration, moisture transfer in soil and vegetation, and surface runoff, as well as the roles of vegetation in these hydrological processes
2. Undertake measurements and modellings of hydrological fluxes and states in the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum
3. Understand and estimate effects of climate and land cover changes on catchment water balance
4. Demonstrate problem-solving, critical-thinking and reasoning abilities