Soil and water - field methods

This course deals with sampling methods and analytical techniques used within the fields of Earth Science and Physical Geography, with a focus on abiotic conditions both the terrestrial and aquatic systems. There will be a strong emphasis on study design and providing students with practical experience in collecting field data from various environments and media. An important aspect is how the natural variability of the landscape, along with the specific research question, affects where, when, and how we sample, as well as how we interpret the data. In addition to field sampling and field studies, the course includes significant laboratory components. The course will also address data quality assurance, statistical processing of both time series data and spatial data, various ways of visualizing data, and the importance of documentation and data traceability-especially for long-term studies (e.g., national monitoring programs). The course contains five modules: Module 1. Soil sampling, 3 ECTS Deals with sampling and analysis of the chemical and physical properties of soil. Module 2, Sediment sampling, 3 ECTS Deals with sampling and analysis of the chemical and physical properties of lake sediments. Module 3. Methods in groundwater hydrology, 3 ECTS Delas with methods used to investigate, e.g., groundwater levels and groundwater flow. Module 4. Sampling of water for chemical analyses, 3 ECTS Deals with sampling and chemical analysis of different types of water samples. Module 5. Methods in surface water hydrology, 3 ECTS Deals with methods used in surface-water hydrology to determine, e.g., surface-water flow and discharge.