uwloo

GEOG 209Hydroclimatology

Units
0.50
Faculty
Environment
Subject
Geography and Environmental Management

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 4 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

An introduction to the fundamental processes governing climate and hydrological systems and the links between them. It starts with a discussion of basic atmospheric and hydrological processes and traces the flow of energy and water between the earth's surface and the atmosphere. The water cycle is examined including evapotranspiration, precipitation, runoff and water storage in the natural reservoirs (including soil and groundwater, lakes and wetlands).

Prerequisites

  • Complete all of the following
    • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
      • EARTH121 - Introductory Earth Sciences (0.50)
      • GEOG102 - Changing Physical Environments (0.50)
    • Obtained all of the following milestones: Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System Milestone

Antirequisites

None listed.

Leads to

Winter 2027 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 00153370 / 75M 14:30–16:20
LEC 701211138 / 9999Online or by arrangement
LAB 10153660 / 25T 08:30–10:20
LAB 10253670 / 25T 10:30–12:20
LAB 10353680 / 25Th 08:30–10:20

Reviewed on UW Flow

67% liked it68% easy82% useful

From 48 ratings and 8 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • the labs were fun, but the slide shows were so hard to follow. text would be everywhere and there wouldn't be anything explaining what equations or diagrams meant, so you really had to guess sometimes. TA was also super mean too. didn't like her at all.

    Jul 2024 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • QUINN is the BEST! Loved this course! Labs are super engaging and fun

    May 2023 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Super dry course, although I wouldn't blame the prof for it since it's really about the material. One of those classes where the material was presented in huge chunks and there clearly wasn't enough time to cover everything in detail. Assignments were slightly difficult but more tedious than anything. Final was OK as well.

    Nov 2021 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • This course is useful and is often required for GEM majors and their specializations BUT the information is just thrown at you, or at least that is how my prof delivered it. Loads of equations that were not explained well in class or in lab coupled with an early class time resulted in a lot of information needing clarification and further explanation during office hours. The great thing about environment profs, they love to help so I had no problem getting the help I needed. A plus, a "cheat sheet" was allowed to be created for the final exam. I can't say I liked the course though; info was not well explained during class and there were A LOT of errors in the lab handouts which just…

    Mar 2018 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • The course provides a great overview of the water cycle and the significance of each component in the water cycle.

    Sep 2017 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

21 posts and comments in 16 threads mention GEOG 209, September 2015 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.

Fall 2024

Winter 2024

Easiest Civil Engineering Electives 3 points, 6 comments

“I am trying to find an easy technical elective (to complement concrete/steel design) for the civil engineering undergrad program at UW. …”

u/ReplEH: “what are the options that fit within ur timetable? ill tell you the easiest out of them”

u/Puzzleheaded-Fix1971: “CIVE596 Construction Engineering CIVE484 Urban Infrastructure Planning Earth 458: Physical Hydrogeology Geog 209: Hydroclimatology Geog 381: Advanced GIS”

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Fall 2023

Fall 2020

Is a environmental resources and sustainability minor good with Chem major? 4 points, 7 comments

“Just wondering what people’s thoughts are. I am majoring in honours chem but I am wanting to use what I learn in chemistry to help the environment. …”

u/E-is-for-Egg: “Are you a good writer?”

u/Fickle_ficus: “… 4 electives that would be suited to your chem background are: BIOL 354 (prereq CHEM 120 or 121), ERS 484 (prereq ENVS 200), GEOG 405 (prereq ENVS 200 & GEOG 209 or EARTH 123), & GEOG 368 (prereq ENVS 200)”

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Spring 2020

Water related courses and research 6 points, 7 comments

“I'm an undergrad planning student and I've realized that I'm really passionate about water and hydrology related studies (ex./ watershed management, looking at the relationship between water supplies …”

u/comeswithdrink: “… There’s also geog 209 which is hudroclimatology which focuses a lot on water budgets also really interesting and there’s a lab component to it so you learn a lot of lab skills. …”

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Rating your Winter 2020 courses 2 points, 7 comments

“The Winter 2020 semester was disrupted in so many ways -- one week of cancelled lectures, the transition to online lectures, revised grading schemes, final assessments. …”

u/edengamer22: “… Least Favorite: Geog 209: Hydroclimateology. Labs were just a little too difficult and most of the stuff taught i already learned in other courses. Also not really interested in the hydro aspect of geography, but its a required course for the geography programs. …”

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Fall 2019

Spring 2019

Winter 2018

GEOG209 - Hydroclimatology or EARTH459 ? 2 points, 3 comments

u/hamandcheese420: “Has anyone taken either of these courses? : - GEOG 209 - Hydroclimatology - EARTH 459 - Numerical Methods in Hydrogeology If so, how did you find the course load / time commitment? I need to choose between one of these as my last tech elective. Appreciate any advice! Thanks”

u/yaenv: “Geog 209 is a pretty straight forward course, mostly based on the water cycle when I took it it had 3 labs (these were concepts based on lectures) and an exam which also wasn’t too bad- im a geog student so I might be biased but it wasn’t hard at all imo”

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Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar