Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

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Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

This module will provide a state-of-the-art overview of how different environmental processes can be tracked using the isotope composition of organic and inorganic materials. This will be done by a combination of lectures and computer practicals. The content is suitable for students in the fields of geography/geoscience, ecology, archaeology, and marine science. The module aims are as follows:

•       To make students aware of the methods used to analyse isotopes for environmental studies
•       To critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different isotope techniques.
•       To examine how isotopic signals can be used to trace processes in the biosphere, hydrosphere and geosphere, particularly for monitoring human impacts
•       To provide training in quantitative methods to analyse isotope data from different environments.
•       To use isotope data for the interpretation and quantification of human impact on environmental processes.

Outline Of Syllabus

Many processes in our environment affect the isotope composition of organisms, water, gases, sediments and rocks. We will investigate the biosphere via the links between organisms and their food using carbon and nitrogen isotopes in food web studies and look at the major sources and sinks in the global carbon cycle. Processes of evaporation and precipitation of water in the hydrosphere affects water in oceans and ice caps, allowing us to use oxygen and hydrogen isotopes to understand shorter-term hydrological cycling, and climatic fluctuations over hundreds to millions of years. Processes and patterns in the geosphere can be unravelled by looking at the source location of materials and their age, and at shorter timescales understanding the impact of pollution.

The module will also investigate how human activity can be traced in the biosphere, hydrosphere and geosphere, by looking at examples from archaeology and environmental monitoring,

The module will be based around a short series of lectures that introduce stable isotopes and the methodology used to produce data. Also, there will be computer practicals on modelling of isotopes in the water cycle and in food webs and calibrating radiocarbon dates and creating age models.

Outline of topics covered:

-       Introduction: history, methods and equipment
-       Biosphere: food webs, carbon cycle, tracing isotopes in food and biomaterials
-       Hydrosphere: water cycle, isoscapes, climate change
-       Geosphere: provenance of materials/pollution, radiometric dating

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

After taking this module students should be able to:
-       Explain and illustrate methods to sample and process different materials (e.g., tissues, soil, sediment, water, ice) for isotope analysis.
-       Understand the functioning of the different laboratory equipment for isotope analysis.
-       Explain and illustrate how isotopes are used to quantify natural and antropogenic processes in the biosphere, hydrosphere and geosphere

Intended Skill Outcomes

After taking this module students should be able to:
-       Understand field and laboratory sampling protocols to minimise contamination and analytical error and interpret analytical errors to assess the quality of isotope data.
-       Compare isotope data with other environmental data to produce an integrated interpretation of environmental processes.
-       Apply software packages for modelling environmental isotopes and creating chronologies.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The module will provide an overview of theory and examples from literature presented in a timetabled lectures. These will be alternated with computer practicals where students apply this knowledge and practice data analysis using open source software. One Q&A drop-in session per computer practical and one Q&A for the Report will be timetabled to ensure tailored input. The knowledge and practical skills build up towards the assessment report.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Assessing three computer practicals in a portfolio (10% each, total 30%)) ensures commitment to the practical elements of the module. Practicals will build up towards the Report, where students will independently apply the skills learnt in the practicals by analysing a new data set designed specifically for the Report (70%).

General Notes

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