Special Topics in Earth, Environmental and Planetary Science (390-0-1)

Topic

Limnology

Instructors

James H. Harris

Meeting Info

Technological Institute F285: Tues, Thurs 9:30AM - 10:50AM

Overview of class

Lakes and other inland waters are dynamic environmental systems shaped by interactions among climate, landscapes, water, organisms, and human activities. This course introduces the principles of limnology and explores the physical, chemical, biological, and hydrological processes that govern freshwater systems. Topics include lake formation and morphology, water and energy budgets, circulation and thermal stratification, water chemistry and nutrient cycling, aquatic productivity and ecosystems, and the responses of lakes to environmental change. Particular attention is given to the connections between lakes and their surrounding watersheds, atmosphere, and human communities. Lake Michigan, the Great Lakes, and examples from other regional and global lakes will be used to connect limnological concepts with real-world observations, environmental datasets, and contemporary freshwater challenges.

Registration Requirements

No prior coursework in limnology or other sciences is required. The course is open to undergraduate and graduate students interested in freshwater environments. Previous coursework in the natural or environmental sciences may be helpful, but students from other disciplines are welcome.

Learning Objectives

Students will develop an interdisciplinary understanding of lakes as interconnected physical, chemical, biological, and hydrological systems. By the end of the course, students should be able to explain how lake morphology, water budgets, circulation, and thermal stratification influence lake behavior; describe fundamental processes governing water chemistry, nutrient cycling, and aquatic productivity; interpret environmental observations, scientific graphs, and limnological datasets; evaluate interactions between lakes, their watersheds, and surrounding ecosystems; and assess how climate variability, climate change, and human activities affect freshwater environments and water quality.

Teaching Method

Class meetings combine lecture, quantitative problem solving, interpretation of scientific observations, and guided analysis of environmental data. Students will examine examples from Lake Michigan, other Great Lakes, and freshwater systems from different geographic and climatic settings. Applied activities will introduce methods for interpreting lake conditions and environmental change using real observations and datasets. The course emphasizes connections among physical, chemical, biological, and hydrological processes, as well as the application of limnological knowledge to contemporary environmental questions.

Evaluation Method

Evaluation will include short in-class assessments, applied exercises involving limnological observations and environmental datasets, and an individual project exploring a question related to lakes or other inland waters. Students will be assessed on their understanding of limnological processes, interpretation of scientific evidence, and ability to communicate environmental findings. There will be no traditional midterm or final examination. Detailed assessment requirements and grading weights will be provided in the course syllabus.

Class Materials (Required)

There is no required textbook. Course materials, assigned readings, scientific publications, and environmental datasets will be provided through Canvas or made accessible through freely available online resources. Students will not be required to purchase a textbook or specialized scientific software.

Class Notes

This course approaches limnology from an interdisciplinary perspective and is intended for students with interests in freshwater science, ecology, Earth and environmental sciences, and related fields. Prior experience with specialized limnological methods or scientific software is not required. Students should be comfortable interpreting scientific graphs and engaging with introductory quantitative concepts. Examples and case studies will emphasize the connections between lake processes, environmental conditions, and human activities, with particular attention to Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes region.

Class Attributes

SoC Additional Distro