GEO2230 : Global Environmental Change (Sem 1 Study abroad) (Inactive)

Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 1 Credit Value: 10
ECTS Credits: 5.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

•To develop an understanding of global environmental change during the Late Quaternary.
•To develop an awareness of geological time and the evolution of the Earth's natural systems.
•To understand the human adaptations and cultural development, and the impacts of humans on the environment.
•To understand how natural system change is deciphered using the tools of modern science for palaeoenvironmental investigation.
•To provide broad grounding in knowledge and skills necessary for Stage 3 modules palaeoenvironmental modules and dissertations.

Outline Of Syllabus

In each semester the module will be delivered by means of lectures and practical sessions and a one-day fieldtrip to Bolton Fell Moss. Lectures will deliver the knowledge base while practicals with give hands-on experience of a range of proxies useful in palaeoenvironmental reconstruction, and in the analysis of geochronological and palaeoenvironmental datasets. The fieldtrip will introduce techniques of field data collection and description. Themes explored in the module include:

Introduction to the Pleistocene: Establishing a broad global framework using isotopic records from the oceans.

• Ice-core proxies and millennial-scale change.
• Establishing land-ocean correlation: An introduction to geochronology.
• Continental Records: Interpreting the sedimentary record of the “Cold Stages”.
• Continental Records: Interpreting the palaeoecological records of the “Warm Stages”.
• Reconstructing Environmental Change during Termination 1

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture101:0010:00N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesPractical42:008:00N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesFieldwork18:008:00N/A
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study174:0074:00N/A
Total100:00
Jointly Taught With
Code Title
GEO2136Global Environmental Change
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Understanding Global Environmental Change during the Quaternary requires proficient practical skills surrounding the range of methods employed, underpinned by a significant academic knowledge base which addresses the theory behind the methods and awareness of the wider conceptual and theoretical issues. Here we consider it essential to assess all these elements and to place equal weighting on the practical and more academic skills.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Practical/lab report1M50Individual practical write-up (1000 words)
Written exercise1M50Essay 1000 words
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

We consider it essential to assess all these elements and to place equal weighting on the practical and more academic skills. Practical portfolios will assess technical skills including data production and analysis, whereas the take home examination will assess the more theoretical and conceptual aspects of environmental change during the Quaternary. The take home exam assessment provides a time limited aspect, not present in essays, that more closely mirrors skills that students may be expected to have in the graduate workplace.

Reading Lists

Timetable