Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2025 (28/07/2025 - 22/11/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- The Environment School
The course builds on lower-level course content and will develop your knowledge of atmospheric processes (meteorology) and water on the Earth’s surface (hydrology). The first half of the course will cover how water is partitioned at the Earth’s surface including rainfall, runoff, infiltration, groundwater, and eco-hydrology. The second half of the course will cover atmospheric motion at a range of space-time scales including synoptic circulation and weather and causes of climate variability. In each part of the course the importance of understanding weather, climate, and hydrology will be highlighted through reference to problems facing humanity where this understanding can be applied to prediction and management of extreme weather and its impacts. This course is designed to provide the academic foundations for further study in meteorology, hydrology, environmental management, Earth science and engineering.
This course provides a detailed synthesis of the physical processes and linkages operating within the Earth’s atmosphere and hydrosphere. Students will gain knowledge of atmospheric processes that govern the daily weather they experience, and the impact of different weather systems on the hydrology of catchments. The movement of water through catchments is studied and the consequences for society.
Course requirements
Assumed background
Students are assumed to have successfully completed GEOS1100 and/or GEOS2100. Completion of introductory level courses in Earth Sciences and/or Engineering (or similar) that have included the teaching of atmospheric processes and catchment hydrology will be considered on merit by the course coordinator. Students without this background should not enrol in this course.
Recommended prerequisites
We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:
GEOS1100 and/or GEOS2100
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Richard Walton
Guest lecturer
Dr Richard Walton
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
This course provides a detailed synthesis of the physical processes and linkages operating within the Earth’s atmosphere and hydrosphere systems. The first half of the course will focus on both channel and subsurface hydrology including lectures on catchment flow modelling and water resource management. Students will be introduced to the spatial and temporal dynamics of flow through catchments and changes that occur in response to environmental controls and catchment geomorphology. Finally, issues of water scarcity and quality will be addressed regarding the growing demands being placed on the hydrological system.
The second half of the course will focus on atmospheric processes with an emphasis on atmospheric motion at a range of space-time scales. We will cover such topics as atmospheric stability and land surface-atmosphere energy exchanges followed by processes that result in the formation and structure of synoptic scale circulation systems, i.e. cyclones, anticyclones, and fronts, and how these phenomena influence the daily weather that we experience such as wind, cloud, and precipitation.
GEOS2101 provides the necessary background for further study in Geographical Science and Environmental Science and Management in courses such as ENVM3200 & ENVM3201. Regrettably, we are no longer able to offer a third-year course in atmospheric/climate science. However, if you wish to pursue upper-level undergraduate study in atmospheric/climate science please discuss this with Prof McGowan as such interests can be accommodated through research courses such as SCIE3121 and SCIE3122.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation |
Hydrology Report
|
25% |
11/09/2025 4:00 pm |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation |
Weather Monitoring Report
|
25% |
30/10/2025 4:00 pm |
| Examination |
End of Semester Exam
|
50% |
End of Semester Exam Period 8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025 |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment details
Hydrology Report
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 25%
- Due date
11/09/2025 4:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
Task description
GEOS2101 Hydrology Assignment
Topic TBA in class
Length:
A maximum word limit of 2600 words is set for this assignment (plus or minus 10%; penalties apply to under length or over length essays). Use illustrations and additional supporting information as appropriate and acknowledge the source of all material which is not original, such as satellite and radar images. Remember that the omission of references may be interpreted as plagiarism.
Format:
Your assignment should be presented in report format. Make effective use of diagrams, photographs and tables, and use computer generated graphics wherever possible. Do not repeat information given in diagrams or tables. Avoid excessive tabulation of data. If, however, the quantity of data is large and you consider that it should be made available to the reader, then place it in an Appendix. DO NOT use footnotes. References should follow the Harvard system of which examples can be found in most Geography texts or similar. Please attach an assignment cover sheet to the front page of your report.
Deadline:
Check the assessment dates below for the exact deadline. Completed assignments must be submitted online via the course Blackboard Turnitin site.
You are advised to also keep a digital copy of your assessment.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance
GOOD LUCK!!
Submission guidelines
Online submission by Turnitin only by the due date and time. No hard copy or assignment cover sheets are required. Submission via email is not accepted.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
See the Additional assessment information section below for information relating to extension applications.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item, then 10% of the maximum possible mark for the assessment item (the assessment ‘marked from’ value) will be deducted as a late penalty for every day (or part day) late after the due date.
For example, if you submit your assignment 1 hour late, you will be penalised 10%; if your assignment is 24.5 hours late, you will be penalised 20% (because it is late by one 24-hour period plus part of another 24-hour period).
Weather Monitoring Report
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 25%
- Due date
30/10/2025 4:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
Task description
Weather and Climate Assignment, 2025
Your Task:
Your task is to:
1) monitor and report on the daily weather experienced in the Brisbane area from Monday 6 October to Sunday 12 October 2025 (7 days) and its association with the changing synoptic scale weather patterns over the 7 day period, and
2) to relate this information to local PM10 air quality monitored by the Queensland Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) by at least one of their monitoring sites in Brisbane. This data can be accessed via https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/management/monitoring/air
Your report should include a daily summary of local meteorological conditions including, but not limited to, wind speed and direction, temperature, humidity, precipitation and cloud form. These observations are to be set in context against a discussion of the prevailing synoptic scale circulation patterns. This is extremely important as no atmospheric phenomenon is discrete, but instead is part of a continuum, i.e. the development of a sea breeze along the coastline of southeast Queensland is dependent on clear skies and weak synoptic pressure gradients, which are typically associated with the presence of an anticyclone. However, these conditions may also result in poor ventilation of the boundary layer leading to poor air quality in urban areas. Therefore, you should demonstrate in your report an understanding of the linkages between atmospheric processes at a range of space-time scales, and how these influence local air quality. Highlight any notable meteorological events which result in severe or unusual weather such as storms, flooding or damaging winds, or unusually high levels of air pollution. Be original and creative in the presentation of supporting data. Remember that large and/or excessive use of tables to present data is not an effective format to relay information to the reader. In some cases this may detract from the readability of your essay and result in a lower than expected grade.
Sources of Information:
The principal sources of data for your study will come from the World-Wide-Web. Local meteorological conditions are monitored on campus by our automatic weather station located on the Social Sciences building. This data can be accessed via the Web at https://environment.uq.edu.au/about/facilities-and-equipment/weather-station. Air quality data can be found at: https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/management/monitoring/air. This site also provides background material on air quality as well as access to historical data.
The Bureau of Meteorology (http://www.bom.gov.au/) has an excellent site providing links to current satellite and weather radar images, synoptic analyses (weather maps) and current observations from other weather stations in the Brisbane area. However, much of this information is NOT archived and you should therefore arrange to access such data on a daily basis – perhaps rostered with a group of friends. You should also keep a weather log of your own observations, i.e. cloud cover, type and height, wind direction, rainfall etc. Do NOT ring or visit government offices or agencies (Federal, State or Local) in order to undertake this assignment.
Length:
A maximum word limit of 2600 words is set for this assignment (plus or minus 10%; penalties apply to under length or over length essays). Use illustrations and additional supporting information as appropriate and acknowledge the source of all material which is not original, such as satellite and radar images. Remember that the omission of references may be interpreted as plagiarism.
Format:
Your assignment should be presented in report format and must be typed on A4 paper.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance.
Submission guidelines
Online submission by Turnitin only by the due date and time. No hard copy or assignment cover sheets are required. Submission via email is not accepted.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
See the Additional assessment information section below for information relating to extension applications.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
You are required to submit assessable items on time. If you fail to meet the submission deadline for any assessment item, then 10% of the maximum possible mark for the assessment item (the assessment ‘marked from’ value) will be deducted as a late penalty for every day (or part day) late after the due date.
For example, if you submit your assignment 1 hour late, you will be penalised 10%; if your assignment is 24.5 hours late, you will be penalised 20% (because it is late by one 24-hour period plus part of another 24-hour period).
End of Semester Exam
- Hurdle
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 50%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
Task description
The final exam consists of multiple choice and short answer questions. More information will be provided in class toward the end of semester.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct
Hurdle requirements
See ADDITIONAL COURSE GRADING INFORMATION for the hurdle relating to this assessment item.Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Calculator options | (In person) Casio FX82 series only or UQ approved and labelled calculator |
| Open/closed book | Closed book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 0% |
| 2 (Fail) |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 30% |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 45% |
| 4 (Pass) |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 50% |
| 5 (Credit) |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 65% |
| 6 (Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 75% |
| 7 (High Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 85% |
Additional course grading information
Assessment Hurdle
In order to pass this course, you must meet the following requirements (if you do not meet these requirements, the maximum grade you will receive will be a 3):
You must obtain 45% or more on the End of Semester exam.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Should you fail a course with a grade of 3, you may be eligible for supplementary assessment. Refer to the UQ website for information on supplementary assessment and how to apply.
Supplementary assessment provides an additional opportunity to demonstrate you have achieved all the required learning outcomes for a course.
If you apply and are granted supplementary assessment, the type of supplementary assessment set will consider which learning outcome(s) have not been met.
Supplementary assessment can take any form (such as a written report, oral presentation, examination or other appropriate assessment) and may test specific learning outcomes tailored to the individual student, or all learning outcomes.
To receive a passing grade of 3S4, you must obtain a mark of 50% or more on the supplementary assessment.
Additional assessment information
Applications for Extensions to Assessment Due Dates
Read the information contained in the following links carefully before submitting an application for extension to assessment due date.
For guidance on applying for an extension, information is available here: https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/exams-and-assessment/applying-assessment-extension
For the policy relating to extensions, information is available here (Part D): https://policies.uq.edu.au/document/view-current.php?id=184
Please note the University's requirements for medical certificates here: https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/uq-policies-and-rules/requirements-medical-certificates
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
Climatology Section
Barry, R.G. and Chorley, R.J. 1982: Atmosphere, weather and climate. Methuen and Co Ltd, London, pp407 (or more recent editions)
IPCC, 2023: Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Sixth Assessment Report
of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Core Writing Team, H. Lee and J. Romero (eds.)]. IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland,
184 pp., doi: 10.59327/IPCC/AR6-9789291691647.
McIlveen, J.F.R. 1992: Fundamentals of weather and climate. Chapman and Hall, London, 497pp.
Sturman, A.P. and Tapper, N.J. 2006: The Weather and Climate of Australia and New Zealand. Oxford University Press, 541p
Tapper, N.J and Hurry, L. 1993: Australia's weather patterns : an introductory guide. Mount Waverley, Victoria.
Stull, R., 2011: "Meteorology for Scientists & Engineers, 3rd Edition." Univ. of British Columbia. 938 pages. isbn 978-0-88865-178-5 (https://www.eoas.ubc.ca/books/Practical_Meteorology/mse3.html)
ﾠ
Hydrology Section
Grayson, R., Argent, R.M., Nathan, R.J., McMahon, T.A. and Mein, R.G., 1996. Hydrological recipes: Estimation techniques in Australian hydrology. Cooperative Research Centre for Catchment Hydrology, Monash University, Victoria, Australia.
Gordon, N.D., McMahon, T.A., Finlayson, B.L., Gippel, C.J. and Nathan, R.J., 2004. Stream Hydrology: An introduction for Ecologists. Wiley, Chichester.
Fetter, C.W. 2001. Applied Hydrogeology. Prentice Hall, New Jersey,ﾠ USA.
Chorley, R.J. (ed) 2019. Introduction of Physical Hydrology (online via UQ library)
Some useful web sites:
Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM)
http://www.bom.gov.au/
Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland
http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/qld/
Brisbane Flood Warning Centre (BoM)
http://www.bom.gov.au/hydro/flood/qld/
Weatherzone
http://www.weatherzone.com.au/ﾠ (Requires you to establish an account - this is free)
The Weatherchaser
http://www.theweatherchaser.com/
Brisbane Storm Chasers
http://www.bsch.com.au/
ﾠ
ﾠ
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (28 Jul - 03 Aug) |
Lecture |
Introduction to Hydrology Hydrological Cycle, Hydrologists Tools, Key Processes & Measurement, Key Equations, Space & Time Variation (Walton) |
Practical |
Catchment Boundaries + Rainfall and streamflow Introduction to delineation of catchments and the plotting of streamflow data. |
|
Week 2 (04 Aug - 10 Aug) |
Lecture |
Open Channel Flow & Discharge Estimation Description of Channel Flow, Flow Characteristics (normal flow, critical depth), How Much Rainfall Becomes Runoff, Discharge Estimation (Walton) |
Practical |
Event Analysis Introduction to the collection and analysis of precipitation data. |
|
Week 3 (11 Aug - 17 Aug) |
Lecture |
Hydrological Modelling What is a model? Types of models, Rainfall-runoff modelling, Calibration, Spatially Distributed Models, Examples. (Walton) |
Practical |
IFD Analysis Introduction to rainfall IFD analysis. |
|
Week 4 (18 Aug - 24 Aug) |
Lecture |
Groundwater Definitions, D’Arcys Equation, Hydraulic Conductivity, Aquifer Recharge, Examples (Walton) |
Week 5 (25 Aug - 31 Aug) |
Lecture |
Water Allocation & Environmental Flows Environmental Flows, National Competition Policy, Environmental Flow Assessment, Water Resource Plans, Examples. (Walton) |
Practical |
Rainfall-runoff modelling Introduction to some simple rainfall runoff modelling using daily, monthly and annual data. |
|
Week 6 (01 Sep - 07 Sep) |
Lecture |
Flood Estimation Flood Magnitude Estimation, Hydraulic Modelling (flood maps), Risk assessment, Flood Mitigation (Walton) |
Practical |
Contaminated Site Water Management Simple and practical real-world application of hydrology to contaminated site water management. |
|
Week 7 (08 Sep - 14 Sep) |
Lecture |
Introduction to climatology Laws governing atmospheric processes and introduction to the way information on weather is presented. (McGowan) |
Practical |
Weather maps Introduction to synoptic weather maps, station data, reporting and forecasts. |
|
Week 8 (15 Sep - 21 Sep) |
Lecture |
Radiation budget and Energy Balance Processes governing the transfer of energy to and from the Earth's surface to the Atmosphere. (McGowan) |
Practical |
Aerological profiles - the atmosphere in 3D I Skew_T Mastery (online) at MetEd. Developing knowledge of the measurement of atmospheric thermodynamics and weather (I). |
|
Week 9 (22 Sep - 28 Sep) |
Lecture |
Air masses of the Australian region and larhe scale atmospheric motion Air masses of the Australian region and an introduction to synoptic scale air motion. (McGowan) |
Practical |
Aerological profiles - the atmosphere in 3D II Skew_T Mastery (online) at MetEd. Developing knowledge of measurement of atmospheric thermodynamics and weather (II). |
|
Week 10 (06 Oct - 12 Oct) |
Lecture |
Atmospheric Stability and Cloud Formation Cloud formation and precipitation processes. (McGowan) |
Practical |
Aerological profiles - the atmosphere in 3D III Skew_T Mastery (online). Developing knowledge of measurement of atmospheric thermodynamics and weather. (III) |
|
Week 11 (13 Oct - 19 Oct) |
Lecture |
Synoptic Meteorology: Part 1 The formation and evolution of synoptic scale weather systems in the Australian region. Part 1 |
Practical |
Atmospheric Dynamics and our Weather Atmospheric dynamics and weather. |
|
Week 12 (20 Oct - 26 Oct) |
Lecture |
Synoptic Meteorology: Part 2 The formation and evolution of synoptic scale weather systems in the Australian region. (McGowan) |
Week 13 (27 Oct - 02 Nov) |
Lecture |
Climate State - teleconnections and weather Causes of synoptic variability and impacts on Australian weather and climate. Exam brief and course review |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.