https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/AM_450014Ecohydrology is a combination of ecology (study of how organisms interact with each other and with the natural environment) and hydrology (study of how water cycles in terrestrial environments). It focuses on the role of ecosystems in the water cycle of terrestrial landscapes. The objectives of the course is to provide understanding of the functioning of ecosystems in relation to water availability and the movement of water in terrestrial ecosystems under different climates. This ecohydrological knowledge forms the basis for supporting decisions on sustainable land use from a water resources point of view. It requires fundamental theoretical knowledge on plant physiology and on the exchange of water between the soil, vegetation and the atmosphere. As such, limitations to ecosystem functioning posed by water availability in relation to evaporation and transpiration by different plant communities is a central theme in this course.This course describes and discusses basic interactions between the vegetated land surface, the atmosphere and the hydrosphere. Basic questions dealt with include: what determines the broad vegetation patterns of the world, and how do these in turn determine the ecohydrological behaviour of different vegetation types? This requires understanding primary ecohydrological processes (rainfall interception, transpiration, soil moisture dynamics) and feedback mechanisms between the vegetation and the atmosphere as well as insight into the measurement, data analysis and modelling of these processes. Tropical and temperate deforestation impacts on catchment hydrological functioning and climate as well as desertification processes are considered. Ecohydrological processes in boreal and tundra regions, as well as in montane cloud forests will be discussed in some detail. Emphasis throughout the course is on a combination of process understanding, interpretation of experimental results, and modelling. Finally, a workshop is included to become familiar with the basics of meteorological data processing, plant water flow and evaporation modelling.The tuition consists of nine classroom lectures, student presentation sessions, two workshops and a proposal writing assignment.Written test on lecture notes and selected literature (65%), paper presentation assignment (15%), and a proposal writing assignment (20%).Scientific papers and handouts are provided during the course via CanvasFirst-year MSc Hydrology students, students from alternative Earth Sciences, Earth and Economy or Natural Sciences MSc programmesThe course is open for participation to students from alternative M.Sc. programmes at the VU University Amsterdam, or from other universities. If you are a professional and wish to attend this course you can also participate on a contract basis. In both cases please do contact the course coordinator to find out if you fulfill the background knowledge requirements and for enrollment procedures.The student should be familiar with the subjects of the BSc course Introduction to Hydrology (450024) as detailed in the Introduction to Hydrology (2012) .The student should have a good background knowledge of mathematics and physics at BSc level and basic computer skills