Module Catalogue

NES2211 : Earth Surface Processes in a Changing Climate

  • Offered for Year: 2025/26
  • Available to incoming Study Abroad and Exchange students
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Sanem Acikalin Cartigny
  • Lecturer: Dr Cees van der Land
  • Owning School: Natural and Environmental Sciences
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

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

Semester 1 Credit Value: 10
Semester 2 Credit Value: 10
ECTS Credits: 10.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

This module aims to equip students with a holistic understanding of how Earth's systems run in balance to shape the Earth's surface. The module mainly focuses on the physical processes, such as sediment transport, erosion and soil formation. Basics of climate systems, interaction between atmospheric, oceanographic and land systems are covered. Impact of climate change on Earth surface processes are discussed in detail.

This module also builds background knowledge needed for the International Field Trip, taking place on Semester 2, Stage 2.

Outline Of Syllabus

The module will cover:


- Introduction sedimentary basin formation
- Sediment transport processes (water and wind)
- Basics of various sedimentary environments (deserts, deltas, rivers, shallow marine, deep marine)
- Introduction to climate science
- What is climate change?
- How climate change impacts surface processes?
- Renewable energy sources and their impact on landforms

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion120:0020:00Presentation preparation and delivery
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion12:002:00Completion of exam
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture132:0026:00Lectures
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion120:0020:00Preparation for and completion of formative problem solving exercise
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesPractical33:009:00Practicals
Guided Independent StudySkills practice55:0025:00N/A
Guided Independent StudyReflective learning activity33:009:00N/A
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study189:0089:00Includes background reading and reading lecture notes for full understanding of material
Total200:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The module will be taught through a series of 2 hour lectures.

Practicals will focus on data collection techniques and interpretation, including sedimentological observations, data mining and interpretation through data visualisation and statistics.

The online discussion, skills practice, independent study and assessment preparation and completion will allow students to consolidate their learning gained from both lectures and practicals and practice their skills.

Assessment Methods

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

Exams
Description Length Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Written Examination901A50N/A
Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Case study2A50N/A
Formative Assessments

Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.

Description Semester When Set Comment
Prob solv exercises1MCompletion of a problem related to the practicals
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Written exam is used to assess student's understanding of basic sedimentological and climate concepts.

Case study is used to assess student's ability to apply their theoretical knowledge on independent data collection and interpretation.

Reading Lists

Timetable