Soil and water - field methods

About the course

This course deals with sampling methods and analytical techniques used within the fields of Earth Science and Physical Geography, with a focus on abiotic conditions both the terrestrial and aquatic systems. There will be a strong emphasis on study design and providing students with practical experience in collecting field data from various environments and media. An important aspect is how the natural variability of the landscape, along with the specific research question, affects where, when, and how we sample, as well as how we interpret the data. In addition to field sampling and field studies, the course includes significant laboratory components. The course will also address data quality assurance, statistical processing of both time series data and spatial data, various ways of visualizing data, and the importance of documentation and data traceability-especially for long-term studies (e.g., national monitoring programs).