University of Liege | Version française
Academic year 2014-2015Value date : 12/05/2015
Version 2013-2014
ENVT3020-1  Tools for measuring environmental parameters : hydrosphere, geosphere and biosphere
- Part 1 : Hydrosphere
- Part 2 : Geosphere
- Part 3 : Biosphere including landscape

Duration :  Part 1 : Hydrosphere : 12h Th, 12h Pr
Part 2 : Geosphere : 8h Th, 4h Pr
Part 3 : Biosphere including landscape : 12h Th, 12h Pr
Number of credits :  
Master in sciences and environment management 5
Master en sciences et gestion de l'environnement, à finalité spécialisée en surveillance de l'environnement, 2nd year5
Lecturer :  Part 1 : Hydrosphere : Vincent Debbaut, Khadija Sossey Alaoui
Part 2 : Geosphere : Vincent Debbaut
Part 3 : Biosphere including landscape : Célia Joaquim-Justo
Coordinator :  Vincent Debbaut
Language(s) of instruction :  
French language
Course contents :  
Part 1 : Hydrosphere

During this course are presented:  
 
Reminder of water cycle and its différents compartments.
Processes  naturel quality acquisition, anthropic pressions and quality altération of water bodies.
Sampling techniques. Physical, chemical and biological instruments for surface water (électrical conductivity, électrochimical sensors, sélective probes, automatiques monitoring systems fixed or mobile, biocasensors, water level, turbidity, speed, discharge rate, ...).
Underground water specific instruments (geological maps, water level, water content, soil perméability, pumping tests, ...).
Reference framework for water monitoring and distribution.
Existing monitoring networks.
The main anthropogenic pressures on surface waters (rivers and lakes) due to urbanization, industrialization, agricultural development, Hydromorphological alterations and biological pressures and their impact on the functioning and biodiversity of these ecosystems.
* European legislation related to water management and mainly Directive European Water Framework: Its principle and objectives;
* Monitoring network of surface waters and groundwaters: Concept of water bodies, type of water bodies, criteria for defining water bodies types, criteria for defining the monitoring network and main elements used for the Ecological Assessment meeting the objectives of the WFD; 
A part is focussed on biological indicators :


  • Biological methods defined in Europe for the Ecological Assessment of surface waters (rivers and lakes): Principles and objectives;
  • * Principles and results of "intercalibration exercise" organized in Europe as a key element in making general environmental objective operational in a harmonised way throughout the EU: The various Geographical Intercalibration Groups (GIGs). Methodology used and some results.

Part 2 : Geosphere

Introduction to soil sciences: soil components, soil properties, soil mapping, soil use and risks.
Soil sampling, inventoty and evaluation techniques.
Main soil analyses.
Main measurement instruments for soil parameters (in the field and in the lab).
Pollution transfer, especially diffuse contaminants (agricultural nitrates, pesticides...), urbanization, deforestation, ....
Soil quality networks.
Case studies of soil characteristics alteration..

Learning outcomes of the course :  
Part 1 : Hydrosphere

Knowledge of processes, of parameter used to characterize water bodies state.
Understanding of type of legal or regulatory tools used for water management.
Knowledge of measuring and sampling methodologies adapted for solving problems related to water management.  
This course will allow students to approach problems and pressures on aquatic environments and their impact on the functioning of these ecosystems in general and their biodiversity in particular.
It will also be the opportunity to approach the European Water Framework directives and their evolution over the past decades with the integration of ecological quality and sustainable resource management to achieve "good ecological status" of water and aquatic ecosystem by 2015

Part 2 : Geosphere

Knowledge of soil use and of main soil characteristics and of methods to measure it.
Knowledge of threads on soil use.

Prerequisites and co-requisites/ Recommended optional programme components :  
Part 1 : Hydrosphere

Basic knowledge in chemistry and in measurement

Part 2 : Geosphere

Basic knowledge in chemistry, physics and in measurement

Planned learning activities and teaching methods :  
Part 1 : Hydrosphere

The course includes:* a theory section: classroom courses; laboratory practice part: Aims to introduce the students to the identification of main biological elements used in the ecological assessment of streams and calculation of indices defined for the same purpose and field visits: They are an opportunity to apply the methodology defined for the collection of biological, physico-chemical and morphometric data used for the ecological assessment of surface waters

Part 2 : Geosphere

Theory and exercices

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :  
Part 1 : Hydrosphere

Face-to-face

Part 2 : Geosphere

Face to face

Recommended or required readings :  
Part 1 : Hydrosphere

Course Power-Point presentations
 
Notes en ligne : POWERPOINT1 : Impacts des pressions anthropiques sur les écosystèmes      aquatiques Définition du réseau de surveillance de la qualité des eaux dans  la cadre de la Directive européenne sur l'eau
POWERPOINT2 : Evaluation de l'état écologique et de la diversité biologique  des cours d'eau par les indicateurs biologiques
POWERPOINT3 : Évaluation du potentiel écologique des réservoirs de barrage Wallons sur base des macrophytes
 
-Haury et al., 2001. Les macrophytes aquatiques bioindicateurs des systèmes lotiques. Intérêts et limites des indices macrophytiques. Synthèse bibliographiques des principales approches européennes pour le diagnostic biologique des cours d'eau. Etude sur l'eau en France. Ministère de l'écologie et du développement durable.
-MISE EN OEUVRE DE LA DIRECTIVE-CADRE SUR L'EAU (2000/60/CE). District hydrographique international De la Meuse. Plan de gestion en Wallonie.
-MISE EN OEUVRE DE LA DIRECTIVE-CADRE SUR L'EAU (2000/60/CE). District hydrographique international De la Escaut. Plan de gestion en Wallonie.
-MISE EN OEUVRE DE LA DIRECTIVE-CADRE SUR L'EAU (2000/60/CE). District hydrographique international De la Seine. Plan de gestion en Wallonie
-MISE EN OEUVRE DE LA DIRECTIVE-CADRE SUR L'EAU (2000/60/CE). District hydrographique international De la Rhin. Plan de gestion en Wallonie
Poikane S. (2008) Water Framework Directive intercalibration technical report. Part 2: Lakes. 185pp pp.

Part 2 : Geosphere

Course Power-Point presentations

Assessment methods and criteria :  
Part 1 : Hydrosphere

Exercice report         Written exam
 
Work to make: work aims to select a biological elements recommended by the WFD for the ecological assessment of surface water and to compare it to macrophytes. Macrophytic data should be collected by students during field visits and should be used to calculate the Macrophyte biological indices (MBIR). The results for each surveyed stations should be interpreted taking into account the land use across the water body and environmental conditions.
Comparison of two indicators should be argued by highlighting the limitations and advantages of each of the two biological approaches (macrophytic method and method chosen by the student).
The work should be concluded with a SWOT Analysis (Strengths - Weaknesses - Opportunities-Threats) of biological methods in the assessment of the ecological status of surface waters

Part 2 : Geosphere

Exercice report                    
 
Written exam

Work placement(s) :  
Part 1 : Hydrosphere

Pierre Alexis : Assessment of the ecological status of Walloon water courses using macrophytes (implementation of the European Water Framework Directive in Wallonia). Work performed in the context of the transition Bridging year: preparatory year for the Master of Science and Environmental Management, organized for students from a non-university bachelor.
Alicia VANDERHULST  : Study of the biodiversity of the Walloon water courses and Assessment of biological quality using macrophytess. (Implementation of the European Water Framework Directive in Wallonia). Work performed in the context of the transition Bridging year: preparatory year for the Master of Science and Environmental Management, organized for students from a non-university bachelor.
Raphael LOPES:Collecting of macrophytic data to establish a typology of Luxembourg water
courses and a biological indicator of water quality. Current work for the acquisition of a Masters degree
in environmental sciences, Department of Environmental Sciences and Management, Liege University,
Arlon, Belgium.
 
Organizational remarks :  
Contacts :  
Part 1 : Hydrosphere

Vincent DEBBAUT
ULG- Campus Arlon
Laboratoire des ressources hydriques
185, avenue de Longwy
6700 ARLON
Tél 063 230891
V.Debbaut@ulg.ac.be
 
ksossey@ulg.ac.be

Part 2 : Geosphere

Vincent DEBBAUT
ULG- Campus Arlon
Laboratoire des ressources hydriques
185, avenue de Longwy
6700 ARLON
Tél 063 230891
V.Debbaut@ulg.ac.be




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