MLJ 510: Natural Water Systems

Autumn 2024

Lecture 1:
Course introduction
The Hydrological Cycle

1
MLJ 510: Natural Water Systems

• Learning objectives
– Learn about geo-/physical conditions,
processes and ecology in natural water systems

• The course gives an introduction to the

main water systems on earth –
salt and fresh surface waters
and water systems in soil and atmosphere.

• A basis for Environmental Analyses,

such as Environmental Risk Assessment,
and monitoring in water systems
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 MLJ 510: Natural Water Systems
• Contents
– The Atmosphere
(atmospheric processes, climate & weather, hydrological cycle)
– Freshwater systems
(catchment hydrology, rivers & ground waters, lakes & wetlands, glaciers &
permafrost)
– Sea water systems
(ocean basins, wind & ocean circulation, waves)
– Particles in water, sedimentation and sediments
(sea-, lake-, river sediments and soils)
– Organisms & ecology
(fresh- & sea water fauna, habitats & ecology)
– Anthropogenic disturbances
(examples: nutrient enrichment in freshwater systems, chemical stressors in the
sea)
– Environmental Risk assessments

3
NB! Important supplementary parts to the Natural Water Systems is in the parallell
 MLJ 510 Natural Water Systems
Course plan - lectures, field/lab., schedule etc. (page 1)
Course plan below will be updated throughout the semester on CANVAS
v.3 Updated 19. Aug-24
Learning activity Schedule Load
Natural Water Systems (MLJ510) - Main topics Lecture #Contact
Field Lab Exam Week Dates
no. hours

Aquatic Ecology & Hydrological cycle: (introduction to Ecosystems ecology, biogeochemistry, (Fri. 23. Aug.
Wed. 21. Aug.
1 34 D-205 10:15-12) 2 hs (-)
ecotoxicology, global water cycles, fluxes, compartments and resources) A-203 12:15-14
(NB!
Changed to
Water properties: (polarity, viscosity, surface tension, solvent, density, heat, sea water, light transmission and Thu. 22. Aug.
2 34 Thu. 22. Aug. 2 hs (+)
absorption, sound transmission, ice formation, gas hydrates) D-205 10:15-12 D-205 10:15-12)

Physiography (Catchments - surface, soil and river runoff): (runoff waters, hillslopes & soils: formation,
Wed. 28. Aug. Fri. 30. Aug.
profiles & processes, soil composition, physical & chemical properties, groundwater, permafrost, rivers & 3 35 2 hs (+)
A-203 12:15-14 D-205 10:15-12
streams)
Physiography (Wetland & Lakes): (wetland formation, terrestrial and salt marshes, mangroves and lake 35
Fri. 30. Aug. Fri. 6. Sep.
formation, temperature, hydrography, circulation, stratification, hydrographic classification, meromixis, lake 4 ______ 4 hs (-)
D-205 10:15-12 A-203 10:15-12
zonation) 36

Field excursion: (Hååna catchment & river system for 'Water Chemistry' MLJ 500 + samples for MLJ 510) Tue. 3.Sep. Wed. 4.Sep. approx. 12
x x 36
(alt. Water Chemistry Highland course w/ E. Enge) (field) (lab) hs

Field course theory and preparation: Ecologically Disturbed Water Systems - Lake Eutrophication:
(production & degradation, C-cycle, phosphorus, trophic classification, eutrophication models, O-cycle, Wed. 11. Sep. Fri. 13. Sep.
5 37 2+2 hs
photosynthesis & respiration effects, anaerobic respiration, N-cycle, external & internal P loads, bacterial A-203 12:15-14 D-205 10:15-12

abundance, sediment zonation, eutrofication counteractions, bottom up & top down approaches)
Mon.-Wed. Thu.-Fri.
Field and lab course: (MLJ 510: lakes & constructed wetlands; hydrography, eutrophication, stream flow; aprrox. 25
x x 38 16-18.Sep. 19-20.Sep.
hs
biogeochemistry) (field) (lab)
Physiography (Oceans): (Plate tectonics, ocean basins formation & evolution, Wilson cycle, rift zones & 6 39
Wed. 25.Sep.
1h
orogenesis) A-203 12:15-14

Physiography (Glaciers & Atmosphere): (orogenesis, glacier formation, development & types, glacier Wed. 25.Sep.
7 39 1h
zonation & thermal regime, atmosphere formation & development, structure, troposphere) A-203 12:15-14

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Field course results - Hydrography and Eutrophication: (hydrography, temperature, oxygen, pH, Fri.27. Sep. Wed. 2.Oct.
8 ______ 2+2 hs
conductivity, phosphate, iron, P & hydraulic loads, P model) 40
D-205 10:15-12 A-203 12:15-14

Climatography (Global): (climate basics: solar radiation, earth´s axis of rotation, albedo, heat, global wind 40
Fri. 4.Oct. Wed. 6.Oct.
systems, moisture circulation systems, convective overturning, Inter-annual climate variability, greenhouse 9 ______ 2+1 hs
D-205 10:15-12 A-203 12:15-14
effect, climates distribution & classification, global ocean and lakes "climates" 41

Climatography (Regional & Local): (altitude & topography, anabatic, katabatic & rain shadow winds,
Wed. 6.Oct.
adiabatic processes, cloud and rain formation, temperature inversions, radiational ground warming & cooling, 10 41 1h
A-203 12:15-14
sea- and land breezes, influence of large lakes
Mid-term exam: (Exam topics: hydrological cycle, water properties, physiography (catchments, lakes,
5
x 41 Friday 11. Oct. 9:00-12:00 3 hs
wetland, oceans, glaciers & atmosphere, lake eutrophication, climatography)
 MLJ 510 Natural Water Systems
Course plan - lectures, field/lab., schedule etc. (page 2)

Learning activity Schedule Load

Natural Water Systems (MLJ510) - Main topics (continued) Lecture #Contact
Field Lab Exam Week Dates
no. hours
Wed 16.Oct. Fri 18.Oct. No
(Microbio- & process lab; 14.-18. Oct) (x) 42 No MLJ 510 MLJ 510
lecture) lecture)
Environmental Risk Assessment: Introduction: (pollutant chemicals, biogeochemical processes, exposure
11 43 Wed. 23.Oct. 1h
assessments)
Water movements: (glacier ice movements & water flow, water flows in hillslopes, soils, rivers & streams, 43 Fri. 25.Oct.
river discharges in different climate regions, water movements in lakes & oceans, currents & waves, circulation 12 ______ Wed. 23.Oct. ___________ 1+2+1 hs
in deep-ocean & semi-enclosed seas, tides) 44 Wed. 30.Oct.

Water transport: (solute transport in oceans, atmospheric moisture, surface, soil & ground water, rivers &
lakes; solids transport in glaciers, hillslopes & rivers; solids deposition and sedimentation in glaciers, rivers, 13 44 Wed. 30.Oct. Fri. 1.Nov. 1+2 hs
lakes and oceans, deposited oceanic resources)
Water systems biology & ecology (Marine organisms): (marine biozones, organism classifications,
14 45 Wed. 6.Nov. 2 hs
environmental factors, basic ecology, selective adaptive strategies, species interactions)
Water systems biology & ecology (Limnic organisms): (freshwater population and communities 45
ecology; ecosystems & energy flow: the ecosystem concept, primary & secondary productivity (limnic & 15 ______ Fri. 8.Nov. Wed. 13.Nov. 2+1 hs
46
oceanic), physiological ecology, bioenergetics)
Water systems biology & ecology (Habitats and biota): (marine coastal, open ocean & deep-sea
16 46 Fri. 15.Nov. 1h
habitats & biota; freshwater zooplankton, insects and macrophyte habitats & biota)
(to be
Exam prep./questions etc. 46 1h
discussed)
Final exam : (Exam topics: Simple environmental risk concept, Water movements & transport, water systems
x Thu. 28.Nov. 9:00-12:00 3h
biology & ecology)

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MLJ 510: Natural Water Systems

• All lectures and exam relevant handouts

will be distributed on ”CANVAS”

Textbook Literature
• The books are meant for in-depth self studies –
(along with “hidden slides” in the lecture files).
– Selected parts of:

• Pinet, P.R: Invitation to Oceanography (5th ed.).

• Holden. J.: Introduction to Physical Geography and

the Environment (4th ed., but 2nd & 3rd ed. can also be
used).

• *Cole, G.A. & Weihe, P.E.: Textbook of Limnology (5th

7
ed.)
MLJ 510: Natural Water Systems

Ecological and
Environmental Risk Assessment
focuses in 1st and 3rd semester aquatic courses:

1st semester 3rd semester

• Aquatic
• Aquatic
Ecosystems ecology
Ecotoxicology
Biodiversity
Biogeochemistry
Environmental Risk relevance:
Effect assessments
Environmental Risk relevance: models and monitoring
Exposure assessments

8
Ecosystems
ecology
( in this course)

..is about dynamically interacting

systems of organisms, the
communities they make up, and the
non-living components of their
environment

Ecosystem processes regulate the

flow (flux) of energy and matter
through an environment

The living (biotic) and non-living (

abiotic) components interact through
nutrient cycles and energy flows

Biodiversity
diversity of life
- from genes to ecosystems

Biogeochemistry

processes in the ecosystems

- biological, geophysical
Key scientific knowledge for
Environmental Risk Assessment
in this course:
Biogeochemistry
Biological, geophysical and chemical processes
governing the composition of the natural
environmental chemical cycles.
Particular emphasis is on C, N, S, and P cycles.
Both driven by and influencing biological activity

NB! The geophysical

processes include transport
of pollutants in the
environment – creating
exposure scenarios -
important in Environmental
Risk Assessment !
 In 3rd semester:

Ecotoxicology
(Also containing key scientific knowledge for
Eco-
Environmental Risk Assessment) toxicolog
y
biosphere

…. effects of toxic chemicals on biological organisms, ecosystem

communit
y community
especially at levels of: populatio
n population
population, community, ecosystem, and biosphere levels.
Levels of organis
m
An interdisciplinary field biological / organ/system
ecological
integrates toxicology and ecology organisation tissue
Environmental
pollutant / cell
stress
Environmental toxicology – organelle

Environmenta
focuses upon effects at the bio-molecular
l toxicology
metabolite
Pollutant
level of the individual and below chemical

Biological Effects /
Environmental Impacts

Pioneers: Rachel Carson, René Truhaut

 Field course:
Cases: freshwater systems in Stavanger

Complex anthropogenic disturbances caused by

by nutrient overloads

What are ecological

(biogeochemical) cause
and impacts?

3 days:
- lakes
- streams
- ecotechnology;
=biomanipulations
and constructed
Boat wetlands 12
A hint before we start…

co
r
i o de iolis
t fle
vec cti
a d herbivo on
n re

Learn the scientific terms !

littoral
ev l i n e estu
ap oc ary
otr h e rm
an t pe
spi
rat rm
ion afr
o me tr habitat ost
m orp h 13

y
MLJ-510 Natural Water Systems
Topics and Approach

• Air moisture (gas)

Natural Water Systems?

Glaciers
Surface (solid)
runoff
Biosphere
Rivers
Lakes Soil & Wetlands
Ground water (liquid)
Oceans
Permafrost (solid) 14
MET-150 Natural Water Systems
Topics and Approach

• Air moisture (gas)

Natural Water Systems?

Glaciers
Surface (solid)
runoff
Biosphere
Rivers
Lakes Soil & Wetlands
Ground water (liquid)
Oceans
Permafrost (solid) 16
Global water aspects… (following 4 slides->)

• Global water fluxes

• Water residence times

– … in different compartments

• Fresh and salt water

• Fresh water geographical distribution

– … in different compartments

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Global water fluxes

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19
 % of % of
Major stocks of water volume total total
(1 000 km3) water freshwater
Oceans 1 338 000 96.54
Saline/brackish groundwater 12 870 0.93
Salt water lakes 85 0.006
Glaciers, permanent snow 24 064 1.74 68.7
Fresh groundwater 10 530 0.76 30.06
Ground ice, permafrost 300 0.022 0.86
Freshwater lakes 91 0.007 0.26
Soil moisture 16.5 0.001 0.05
Atmospheric water vapour 12.9 0.001 0.04
Marshes, wetlands* 11.5 0.001 0.03
Rivers 2.12 0.0002 0.006
Incorporated in biota 1.12 0.0001 0.003
Total water 1 386 000 100
Total freshwater 35 029 100 20
Source: Shiklomanov 1993
Fresh water geographical distribution
… in different compartments

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MLJ 510: Natural Water Systems

End of lecture 1...

Next: Water properties

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