Global Environmental Processes
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| GEOG1025 | School of Geographical Sciences | 1 | 20 | Full year China |
- Code
- GEOG1025
- School
- School of Geographical Sciences
- Level
- 1
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Full year China
Summary
This module has an overall theme to study the global environmental processes of the Earth. There will be covered the context as below. The introduction covers the history of the universe, from the big bang to the evolution of the Earth's surface environment, via formation of galaxies, stars, elements and the solar system. We describe the major global systems and their circulations as they are today - solids (plate tectonics, formation and erosion of crustal rocks), liquids (oceans, temperature and salinity gradients) and gases (atmosphere, weather and climate). We also examine the global processes of the environmental systems as we will cover the range of processes on a global scale with the knowledge of atmospheric (i.e. global and regional climate and weather issues), coasts and oceans, glaciers, glaciation and quaternary environmental change processes, soil and drylands, rivers and geomorphological processes and bio-geochemical processes to inform an understanding of global systems of wide range environmental issues. This module has 6 major themes and contained 20 lectures (L1-L11: 1st semester; L12-L20: 2nd semester ref GEOG1025timetable):
1st theme: Fundamental of Environmental Sciences and Physical Geography
2nd theme: The earth formation and continents
3rd theme: Climate and weather
4th theme: Hydrology and Geomorphology
5th theme: Environmental Change
6th theme: Bio-geochemical processes
Target Students
Students registered on the Environmental Science programme at The University of Nottingham Ningbo, China.
Classes
- One 2-hour lecture each week for 24 weeks
- One 8-hour field studies
Activities may take place every teaching week of the Semester or only in specified weeks. It is usually specified above if an activity only takes place in some weeks of a Semester. The module contents two assessments, with two exams in each semester that aims to test students’ understandings of the context for the year-long module.
Assessment
- 50% Exam 1 (2-hour): 2 essays (2 hours exam) / Autumn
- 50% Exam 2 (2-hour): 30 MCQs and 2 essays (2 hours exam)/ Spring
Educational Aims
To give students:1. a general understanding of the physical, chemical and biological development of the Earth since the start of the Universe2. an understanding of the cyclical movement of the major materials such as carbon and nitrogen between biological and non-biological forms.3. an understanding of how physical, ecological and environmental conditions affect global environments, habitats and people4. an outline of the importance of change in affecting physical and biological conditions on earth5. a platform for interpreting large scale geographical and environmental issues. On completion of the module the students will have developed an ability to think analytically about physical, ecological and environmental processes and understand, synthesise and critically evaluate current debates in environmental change within a broader conceptual and scientific framework.Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding of:1. A2: current trends and developments within the life and environmental sciences 2. A3: appropriate terminology, nomenclature and classification 3. A4: the Earth as a system 4. A6: temporal and spatial scalesIntellectual Skills - the ability to: 1. B3: understand complex ideas and relate them to specific problems or questions Practical/Professional Skills - the ability to: 2. C2: articulate knowledge and understanding of scientific concepts Transferable Skills - the ability to: 3. D5: use and access information and communication technology
Conveners
- Dr Faith Chan