One to three hours. Soil Science and Groundwater Hydrology. The scientific foundation for the sound management of soil and groundwater resources. Topics include parent materials, classification of soils, physical properties of soils, soil water, clay mineralogy, soil chemistry, soil organisms and organic matter, elemental cycles in soil, aquifers, groundwater flow, wells and the geology of groundwater occurrence. The laboratory emphasizes methods of soil sampling and analysis, analysis of wells and the use of software in groundwater hydrology.
Students conduct an independent research project.
Offered in alternate years. Special Topics in Geology. Authorized field research studies or other courses with departmental approval. May Terms may include Field Geology in Alaska, Field Geology in Minnesota, Field Geology in the Alps and Field Geology in Scotland. Field Geology courses teach geological mapping and expose students to a wide variety of geological features not seen in Iowa.