Print Syllabus

Syllabus

SG0211 Soil Science, hydrology and meteorology, 7.5 Credits

Marklära, hydrologi och meteorologi

Subjects

Forest Science Soil Science Forest science Soil science

Education cycle

Bachelor’s level

Modules

Title	Credits	Code
Single module	7.5	0201

Advanced study in the main field

First cycle, has at least 60 credits in first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
Bachelor’s level (G2F)

Grading scale

Language

Swedish

Prior knowledge

Basic qualifications for university studies and qualifications from upper secondary school equivalent to

- Biology 2 and

- Chemistry 2

and

knowledge at basic level equivalent to

- 60 credits Forest Science, including Chemistry 7,5 credits and 7,5 credits Soil Science

- 60 credits Biology including Chemistry 15 credits and Soil Science 7.5 credits or

- 60 credits Biology inluding Chemistry 15 credits and Earth sciences 7.5 credits or

- 60 credits of Earth sciences including Chemistry 15 credits

Objectives

The course aims at a comprehensive and coherent view of the forest ecosystem, including landscape-scale meteorologic and hydrologic processes such as the energy and water balances, and enhanced knowledge of physical, chemical and biological processes in the soil.

After completing the course the student will be able to:

• account for the energy- and water balance equations, including the variation of parameters over different vegetation surfaces.

• discuss the effects of different forestry activities on the energy and water balance, in a given area.

• describe the components of soils and the most important organism groups, including their main functions in the soil system.

• account for the strength and capacity of water adsorption and its availability for plants, the transport of water in the groundwater zone, and the main features of gas exchange in soils.

• account for fundamental chemical and biological soil processes, particularly those tied to the cycling of nutrients, and the understanding of how that, in turn, is affecting the soil productivity.

• discuss different environmental factors, such as availability of water-, nutrient- and energy substrates, as well as temperature, pH and redox conditions, affect the rate and direction of soil processes.

Content

The pedagogic setup is lectures, individual reading and organized group discussions. The group discussions are performed according to a specific protocol termed SIG (Studies In Groups). Subsections of the course are ended with question seminars. In some subject areas this pedagogy is complemented by supporting exercises.

The subject content includes the fields of meteorology, hydrology, soil physics, soil chemistry and soil biology including microbiology. Scheduled exercises and group discussions are compulsory.

Grading form

The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.

Formats and requirements for examination

Approved written examination and approved reports and presentation of exercises. Participation in compulsory parts.

• If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.

• The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.

• If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.

• For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Other information

• The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.

• If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Additional information

SLU is environmentally certified according to ISO 14001. A large part of our courses

cover knowledge and skills that contribute positively to the environment. To further

strengthen this, we have specific environmental goals for the education. Students are

welcome to suggest actions regarding the course’s content and implementation that lead

to improvements for the environment. For more information, see webpage www.slu.se.

Responsible department

Department of Forest ecology and Management