4503 Nordic surface waters

Prerequisites

None

Course Objectives

The students will be able to understand how freshwater ecosystems in Nordic countries function including knowledge of physical, chemical, and biological components in rivers and lakes. The many threats facing the quality of freshwater bodies will be considered and the students will be able to utilize this knowledge in water quality assessment and management.

Learning Methods

Lectures, seminars, laboratory exercises, field work; students are advised to organize discussion groups.
6 hours/week, 10 weeks. Mandatory laboratory exercises (2 days) and field work (5 days).
Teaching medium is English.

Course Description

This course treats these central themes: aquatic ecosystems in Nordic countries, origin and morphology of lakes and rivers, water and sediment chemistry, interpretation of limnologic data, micro organisms and metabolic processes, freshwater plants and animals, acidic depositing and liming, eutrofication and restoration, flow-regulated rivers and an introduction to the EU water framework directive.

Assessment Methods

Mandatory assessments, (oral and/or written) which count 40%; 5-hour, individual, written final examination which counts 60%. Admission to the final exam requires a pass grade in all other modules.

Pensum