This course presents advanced topics of single/multiphase fluid flow, heat transfer, reactive transport, and geochemical reactions in the subsurface. Emphasis is on the understanding of the underlying governing equations of each physical and chemical process, and their relevance to applications, e.g., groundwater management, geothermal energy, CO2 storage, waste disposal, and oil/gas production.
**Learning Objective:**
This course presents the tools for understanding and modeling basic physical and chemical processes in the subsurface. In particular, it will focus on fluid flow, reactive transport, heat transfer, and fluid-rock interactions in a porous and/or fractured medium. The students will learn the underlying governing equations, followed by a demonstration of corresponding analytical or/and numerical solutions.
By the end of the course, the student should be able to:
1. Understand, formulate, and derive the governing equations of fluid flow, heat transfer, and solute transport;
2. Understand and apply the underlying physical and chemical processes to simplify and model practical subsurface problems;
3. Solve simple flow problems affected by fluid density (induced by the solute concentration or temperature);
4. Understand and be able to assess the uncertainties pertaining to the reactive transport processes;
5. Assess simple coupled reactive transport problems.
This course focuses on benefits and limitations of geophysical methods applied to problems of high societal relevance. It is demonstrated, how seismics, ground-penetrating-radar and other electromagnetic methods can be employed in geothermics, the cryosphere, hydrocarbon exploration, natural hazard assessments and radioactive waste disposal problems.
**Learning Objective:**
This course is set up for both, geophysicists and non-geophysicists. The former will become familiar with applications of geophysical methods, for which they have learned the underlying theory in other courses. Non-geophysicists (i.e., potential users of geophysical technics, such as geologists and geotechnical engineers) will learn, which geophysical method or which combination of geophysical methods can be used to solve a particular in their realm.
The main learning goal for both groups is to understand the benefits and limitations of geophysical techniques for important applications, such as exploration problems, waste disposal, or natural hazards.
The course Integrated Earth Systems III addresses geological resources (georesources) from an integrative perspective. The course covers three interacting focus themes:
1) non-metallic mineral resources (aggregates, cement raw materials, hydrocarbons),
2) geothermal resources (geothermal energy),
3) metallic mineral resources (ores).
**Learning Objective:**
The students develop an overview of the different usable geological resources on earth. In particular, they will discuss and amplify their understanding of the genesis of these georesources in the context of the interacting petrological, tectonic, geophysical and geochemical processes. The students will be able to classify the resources' economic significance and to judge their responsible utilisation.
The geophysical field lab is a hands-on introduction into several methods of geophysical prospecting. During the field lab eight techniques are explored in half-day field experiments: Active Seismic, seismic noise measurements, gravimetrie, geomagnetics, geoelectrics, GPR, EM and geothermal measurements.
**Learning Objective:**
Eine Übersicht und ein Grundverständnis von den unterschiedlichen Geophysikalischen Methoden gewinnen.
The course offers an introduction to Hydrogeology:
- Why is groundwater so important to us?
- How does one extract groundwater?
- How can the distribution and movement of groundwater be characterised?
**Learning Objective:**
Students:
- recognise the value of groundwater as a natural resource.
- can perform water balances.
- can describe methods of characterising groundwater bodies.
- can apply groundwater flow equations in simple cases.
- know the classical methods of analysing pumping tests.
The course will introduce students to the general principles of Geothermics and is suitable for students who have a basic knowledge of Geoscience or Environmental Science (equivalent of a Bachelor degree).
**Learning Objective:**
To provide students with a broad understanding of the systems used to exploit geothermal energy in diverse settings.
This course is designed to provide an introduction to hydrogeology and oceanography for all Earth Science students at ETH. It provides an overview of the physical controls on water flow in streams, aquifers, and the oceans. It also deals with the basics of groundwater chemistry, biogeochemical cycling in the oceans, the role of the oceans as carbon reservoirs and their dynamic redox state.
**Learning Objective:**
To understand and describe the basic principles of the hydrologic cycle and water flow in streams and aquifers.
To conduct simple calculations of water transfer in streams and aquifers as well as of flood frequencies and magnitudes.
To discuss surface and groundwater as a water resource.
To interpret different ion distributions in aquifers in terms of bacic water chemistry, fluid-mineral reactions, water contamination, and water origin.
To understand the major features of ocean basins and the tectonic controls on their structure.
To identify the major controls on the temperature, salinity and density structure of the oceans.
To describe how these controls interact to drive surface and interior ocean circulation.
To interpret different kinds of element distribution in the oceans in terms of basic chemistry, sinks, sources and internal biogeochemical cycling.
To discuss the cycles of carbon and oxygen in the ocean, with a view to the critical analysis of how the oceans respond to, cause and record the dynamics of these cycles in Earth history.
The course provides an introduction into quantitative analysis of groundwater flow and solute transport. It is focussed on understanding, formulating, and solving groundwater flow and solute transport problems.
**Learning Objective:**
a) Students understand the basic concepts of groundwater flow and solute transport processes, and boundary conditions.
b) Students are able to formulate simple, practical groundwater flow and solute transport problems.
c) Students are able to understand and apply simple analytical and/or numerical solutions to fluid flow and solute transport problems.
General knowlede of seismology.
**Learning Objective:**
General knowlede of seismology.
This course gives an overview of the basic concepts of geology and petrography and shows some links to the application of these concepts. The course consists of weekly lectures and bi-weekly exercises in groups.
**Learning Objective:**
This course gives an overview of the basic concepts of geology and petrography and shows some links to the application of these concepts.