Eco-hydrology is the study of interactions among climate, hydrology and ecological productivity and biogeochemical cycling. One of the main tools used in eco-hydrology is computer based simulation modeling. These models combine data and theory to understand how plants and water interact and how decisions that people make alter water resources and plant and ecosystem health. This section will provide a brief overview of hydrologic and eco-hydrologic models and their applications. We will then examine, using in a class exercise, how ecohydrologic models can be used for testing hypothesis. We will consider both existing hydrologic models and simple model developed - on the fly - as approaches to quantify the implications of multiple controls on eco-hydrologic processes. The course will cover both designing a new model and selecting, calibrating and evaluating existing models. This is a skills based course and we will use R (a data analysis and programming environment) and student will undertake a model application project.

Prerequisites: Upper-division undergraduate or graduate course in earth system science or hydrology. The course will use R. Instructor will provide links to tutorials that provide an introduction to R. Students who are unfamiliar with R should complete these prior to the module.

Examples of topics students are expected to have familiarity with:
• http://www.bren.ucsb.edu/academics/documents/ESM202-KellerandMelack.pdf
• http://www.bren.ucsb.edu/academics/documents/ESM203-DozierandDunne.pdf