G8582k Geochemistry of Aquatic Systems

Faculty of Science
Spring 2026
Extent and Intensity
1/2/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Pavel Pracný, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Veronika Kršková (assistant)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Pavel Pracný, Ph.D.
Department of Geological Sciences – Earth Sciences Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: Ing. Jana Pechmannová
Supplier department: Department of Geological Sciences – Earth Sciences Section – Faculty of Science
Timetable
Fri 13. 2. 9:00–12:00 G1,01004, Fri 27. 2. 9:00–16:00 G2,02003, Fri 27. 3. 9:00–10:00 G2,02003
Prerequisites (in Czech)
!( G8581 Hydrogeochemistry && G8581k Hydrogeochemistry && G8582 Geochemistry of Aquatic System ) && !NOWANY( G8581 Hydrogeochemistry , G8581k Hydrogeochemistry , G8582 Geochemistry of Aquatic System )
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 29 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Abstract
The aim of the course is to introduce students to the geochemical interactions between water and various substances in the natural environment throughout the hydrological cycle. Students will understand the forms of occurrence of substances in water, the main geochemical systems linked to the aquatic environment (acid-base systems, redox systems, isotope systems, weathering, organic carbon...) and methods for studying and describing the environment. Last but not least, attention is also paid to human impact and the principles of sustainable use of water resources.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course:

  1. Students will understand the forms in which substances occur in water.
  2. Students will understand the principles of equilibrium in water-mineral and water-atmosphere systems.
  3. Students will understand the basic interactions between aqueous solutions and mineral surfaces.
  4. Students will understand the basic rules governing isotopic variations in hydrological reservoirs and phase interactions.
  5. Students will be able to present hydrogeochemical data, compile appropriate diagrams, and describe and evaluate their content.
  6. Students are able to use geochemical modeling tools for speciation calculations and basic assessment of hydrogeochemical systems.
  7. Students are able to perform basic groundwater monitoring, collect and evaluate data, evaluate the findings, and compile a report.
Key topics
  • The course is thematically related to the basic geochemistry course and expands especially the area of interactions of the water environment with minerals and the atmosphere. One of the important topics is also practical work with data and their visualization and evaluation so that students can directly use the acquired knowledge in their work.
  • 1. Introductory lecture (introduction to the content, expectations, conditions for completion)
  • 2. Water and substances dissolved in water (ions, complexes, colloids, ionic potential, solubility, major processes, dominant components)
  • 3. Aquatic environment (hydrological cycle, precipitation, ocean, surface water, groundwater)
  • 4. Equilibria and activities (terms, equilibrium constants, ionic strength, activity)
  • 5. Acid-base processes and the carbonate system (acids, bases, pH, carbonate speciation, alkalinity, acidity, manifestations)
  • 6. Redox processes in natural waters (water properties, pH, redox reactions, pe, Eh, Eh-pH diagrams)
  • 7. Use of isotopes in hydrogeochemistry (isotopes, fractionation, δ18O, δD, δ13C, δ15N systems, applications)
  • 8. Sampling and analytical methods (field measurements, laboratory determinations, sampling, instrumentation, isotope sampling)
  • 9. Working with hydrogeochemical diagrams (data evaluation, diagram construction and evaluation)
  • 10. Environmental influences on natural waters (groundwater formation, climatic and anthropogenic influences, influence of organisms, legal framework)
  • 11. Contaminants in water (types of contaminants, sorption processes, behaviour and distribution, remediation)
  • 12. Organics and the aquatic environment (structure, humic and fulvic substances, DOC, organic contaminants)
  • 13. Final projects evaluation and reflection (project evaluation, feedback, recommendations, error correction)
Study resources and literature
    recommended literature
  • CLARK, Ian D. Groundwater geochemistry and isotopes. Boca Raton: CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, 2015, xvii, 438. ISBN 9781466591738. info
  • APPELO, C.A.J. and D. POSTMA. Geochemistry, Groundwater and Polution. 1st ed. Rotterdam/Brookfield: A.A.Balkema, 1994, 519 pp. ISBN 905410 106 7. info
  • STUMM, Werner and James J. MORGAN. Aquatic chemistry : chemical equilibria and rates in natural waters. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1995, xvi, 1022. ISBN 0-471-51184-6-. info
    not specified
  • DREVER, James I. The Geochemistry of Natural Waters. Prentice Hall, 1997, 450 pp. ISBN 0-13-272790-0. info
  • WHITE, William M. Geochemistry. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell, 2013, vii, 660. ISBN 9780470656686. info
  • MANAHAN, Stanley E. Environmental chemistry. 8th ed. Boca Raton, Fla.: CRC Press, 2005, 783 s. ISBN 1566706335. info
  • KRESIC, Neven. Hydrogeology 101. Warrenton (VA): Blue Ridge Press, 2023. ISBN 979-8-218-06984-1.
Approaches, practices, and methods used in teaching
Lectures, class excercises, laboratory excercises, reading
Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements
Final test, practical projects
Language of instruction
Czech
Study support
https://is.muni.cz/auth/el/sci/jaro2026/G8582/index.qwarp
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
The course is taught once in two years.
Information on the per-term frequency of the course: Bude otevřeno v jarním semestru 2026/2027.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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