Marc Bierkens
Frans van Geer
Course code: GEO4-4420
ECTS Credits: 7.5
Level M: Master
Language of instruction: English
Teachers: prof. dr. Marc F.P. Bierkens (M.F.P.Bierkens at uu.nl)
prof. dr. Frans van Geer (Frans.vanGeer at tno.nl)
Teaching period: 3 (February 02 to April 22 2012)
Time slot: C (MON-afternoon, TUE-afternoon,THU-morning)
Course objective
This course aims at exposing the student to basic concepts and issues that are essential to stochastic modelling of hydrological processes. After completing this course students
- acquire a good overview of stochastic hydrology;
- be able to identify the main sources of uncertainty in hydrological modelling;
- appreciate the added value of the stochastic approach to hydrology;
- be able to understand the basic concepts of probability theory and random functions;
- be able to apply such concepts to uncertainty analysis in hydrological analysis, modelling and forecasting;
- have a sound basis for reading and understanding the literature on stochastic hydrology.
Course content (links to course handouts in pdf)
- Introduction
- Descriptive statistics
- Probability and random variables
- Hydrological statistics and extremes
- Random functions
- Time series analysis
- Geostatistics
- Forward stochastic modelling
- Optimal state prediction and the Kalman filter
Furthermore, students will select a special topic for further study from the following list: sampling and monitoring; inverse estimation; ordinary stochastic differential equations; point processes; upscaling and downscaling methods; uncertainty and decision making.
Course material
– Course Guide 2014
– Lecture notes Stochastic Hydrology
Mode of instruction
Lectures, Computer practicals, exercises, writing and presentations
Assessment
Grading based on: exam (80%), writing research proposal (10%), presenting research proposal (10%).
Entry requirements
At least one of the following course modules must be completed:
– Principles of groundwater flow (GEO4-1434)
– Land surface hydrology (GEO4-4404)