PhD in Hydrologic Sciences - Earth Surface Processes in Davis United States | University of California Davis

The surface hydrology specialization focuses on analyzing water movement and pollutant distribution across the lower atmosphere, land surfaces, oceans, and shallow soil layers. Coursework may cover the physical, chemical, and certain biological properties of surface waters and their connections with groundwater and coastal marine environments. This field primarily aims to characterize, simulate, and manage surface water systems, with special attention to understanding interactions between processes operating at different temporal and spatial scales, as well as measuring impacts when data is incomplete. Another key objective involves forecasting how pollutants disperse and transform within lakes, rivers, and estuaries. Since surface water movements are often unpredictable and follow complex pathways, computer simulations help generate insights—such as anticipating flood patterns, tracking thermal pollution from industrial facilities, or monitoring sediment, sewage, and other pollutants in aquatic systems. Research involves creating numerical models using finite element and finite difference methods to simulate fluid dynamics and contaminant spread in water systems, accounting for turbulence and layered flow patterns. Satellite and sensor data enhances hydrological modeling by providing higher-resolution spatial and temporal information. Advanced modeling techniques originally designed for localized pollution sources and small agricultural areas can now be expanded to study entire river basins.