49th Heidelberg Physics Graduate Days

Water Planet - Hydrology and Coupled Physics of the Earth's Shallow Interior

Payton Gardner

Water is the single most important distinguishing feature of Earth. Water plays a fundamental role in sustaining life, determining the shape of the earth's surface, and controlling the location and amount of energy and natural resources stored in the shallow crust (~2-5km depth). Students will be introduced to the fundamental physics of coupled water, energy and mass transport in the subsurface. We will discuss the processes and properties which control the distribution and movement of water and its role in the transport of energy and mass in the near surface. Application of these principals critical for the sustainable adaptation of society in the future will be considered including: Water Resources in a Changing Climate, Geothermal Energy Production, Geologic Carbon Sequestration, Seasonal Seismicity and Nuclear Waste Disposal.