GEOB 503: Topics in Hydrology and Geomorphology

GEOB 503 - Topics in Hydrology and Geomorphology

Course Description

This problem-based learning course is designed to introduce graduate students to data processing, manipulation and analysis using two commonly available programs (MATLAB and R). It is a hands-on course requiring students to work with the software to work on laboratory-style assignments during the scheduled class time. The objective of the course is to allow students to become sufficiently competent with these programs that they can use them during their graduate research. The examples used to develop the weekly assignments come from research projects in hydrology and geomorphology. The course is intended for all graduate students in the natural sciences who will be taking a quantitative, analytical approach to their research.

Syllabus, Textbook etc.

The course syllabus is your primary reference for all grade distributions, policies, dates and expectations for this course.

The textbooks and readings assigned for this course can be found on the course website or online.

The software you will use (MATLAB and R) is available in the computer lab (rm 239), but you MUST install R BEFORE the first class on January 5, 2012. To install R on your machine, proceed as follows:

Download and install R from R-Project webpage

If you are using a PC, dowload and install Notepad++ and NppToR, which is a plug-in that allows you to run R code from the Notepad++ text editor

If you are using a Mac, you should download and install TextWrangler, and then put this language file in the directory ~/Library/Application Support/TextWrangler/Language Modules/ and this script in the directory ~/Library/Application Support/TextWrangler/Scripts/ (if you are using OS 10.7 Lion, you will need some help to locate these directories).

You are also strongly encouraged to install MATLAB on your own computers. It can be purchased from the Matworks website or from the UBC Bookstore.

Instructors

Brett Eaton
Office: Geography Room 232
Phone: 604.822.2257
Email: brett (dot) eaton (at) ubc (dot) ca
Office hours: T, 14:00 to 16:00

Sean Fleming
Email: sean (dot) fleming (at) ec (dot) gc (dot) ca
Office hours:via e-mail

Dan Moore
Office: Geography Room 225
Phone: 604.822.3538
Email: dan (dot) moore (at) geog (dot) ubc (dot) ca
Office hours: TBA

Readings, Notes and Lab Assignments

Week #1: Introduction to R for data analysis and programming

Week #2: Regression analysis

Example script -- sampling variability
Example script -- creating a dataframe and regression analysis
Example script -- Okanagan Lake Inflow and April 1 SWE
Assignment 2-- Regression Analysis
Assignment 2-- dataset
Assignment 2 -- solution script
Assignment 2 -- solution PDF

Week #3: Multiple regression analysis

Assigned Reading: Watson et al. 2001. Improved methods to assess water yield changes from paired-catchment studies: application to the Maroondah catchments.
Example script-- Regressing Tw and Ta: analysis of residuals
Example script-- Okanagan Lake inflow using multiple regression
Lecture Notes on Multiple Regression
Assignment 3-- Multiple Regression Analysis
Assignment 3-- dataset
Assignment 3 -- solution Part I
Assignment 3 -- solution Part II

Week #4: Nonlinear regression analysis

Example script -- Loess smoothing of a scatter plot
Example script -- fitting a logistic function
Example script -- fitting a rating curve using a power function
Example script -- Camp Creek and Greata Creek regressions
Lecture Notes & Assignment
Assignment 4-- dataset

Week #6: Introduction to MATLAB & Solving Equations

Summary of useful functions in MATLAB ( Example script A)
Example script B -- constructing and plotting a cross section
Example script C -- estimating flow for a given water level
Assignment 5 - part 1 brute force approaches
Assignment 5 - part 2-- numerical search methods
function file for part 1 and 2
Dataset for part 2
R for MATLAB users guide from sourceforge.net
R / MATLAB Reference Guide by David Hiebeler
Answers are in this ZIP file

Week #7: Using While Loops to find roots and max/min values of a function

Assignment 6 - part 1 using WHILE loops with a simple formula, F(x)
Assignment 6 - part 2 using WHILE loops with a function file for calculating sediment transport rate, Qb
function file for part 2
function file for part and 2
READING: Maxima and Minima of a function
READING: Numerical Methods for Equation Solving
Answers are in this ZIP file

Week #9: Solution of ordinary differential equations

Example script -- solving for the impact velocity of a raindrop falling from a tree (you will also need this function file)
Assigned Reading on Storage-outflow modelling by R.D. Moore (1997)
Notes and Assignment -- Modelling catchment-scale storage-discharge relations
Assignment script -- solving for the storage-outflow relations (you will also need this function file)
Answers are in this ZIP file

Week #10: Sensitivity analysis

Lecture Notes & Assignment on model sensitivity analysis and model fitting
Assigned Reading by Eaton (2006) on the bank stability formulation used in the UBCRMH model
UBCRMH function file

Week #11: MATLAB exam

Function file to be used for the last question in the exam

Week #12: Spectral analysis

Lecture powerpoint file on Spectral Analysis
Example script 1 FFTSpectralAnalysis_AdaptedForGEOB503.r
Example script 2 noise-colours.r
Assignment
Dataset 1 Elton-Nicholson Mackenzie Lynx Population
Dataset 1 PDO-DJFmean

Week #13: Trend analysis

Assignment on Trend analysis
Script TrendAnalysis_v2.r
Lecture Notes in powerpoint format