| Module Code | BD7059 |
| Module Name | Global Environmental Change |
| ECTS Weighting [1] | 5 ECTS |
| Semester Taught | 1 |
| Module Coordinator/s | Prof Fraser Mitchell |
Module Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
- Outline atmospheric and oceanic circulation change and comment on their potential significance for abrupt climate transitions.
- Explain in what way living systems control and/or are influenced by the geology and chemistry of the Earth.
- Describe how records of past environmental change are constructed and illustrate their applications and limitations with reference to named examples.
- Use the concepts of earth system science to assess current issues related to climate change and project their likely significance on topics of relevance for selected applications.
Module Content
Topics covered in this module are:
- This module covers the scientific basis necessary to understand environmental (including climate) change from first principles, including a particular focus on humans as agents of environmental change. Topics include the biogeochemistry of carbon and nitrogen, ocean circulation, heat and mass transfer fundamentals, as well as the tools to read and comprehend the scientific literature providing evidence of changes occurring through time. Lectures on specific topics and their wider significance will be developed through whole class discussions on their practical significance.
Teaching and Learning Methods
Assessment Details
| Assessment Component | Brief Description | Learning Outcomes Addressed | % of Total | Week Set | Week Due |
| Group work and individual presentation including peer review | 100 | ||||
Reassessment Details
Contact Hours and Indicative Student Workload
| Contact Hours (scheduled hours per student over full module), broken down by: | hours |
| Lecture | hours |
| Laboratory | hours |
| Tutorial or seminar | hours |
| Other | hours |
| Independent study (outside scheduled contact hours), broken down by: | hours |
| Preparation for classes and review of material (including preparation for examination, if applicable) | hours |
| Completion of assessments (including examination, if applicable) | hours |
| Total Hours | hours |
Recommended Reading List
Module Pre-requisites
Prerequisite modules:
Other/alternative non-module prerequisites: N/A
Module Co-requisites
N/A