Undergraduate Course: Volcanoes, Environment and People (GEGR10103)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Geography |
Other subject area | Environmental Courses |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | The course is focussed on the origins, dispersal and environmental/cultural impacts of volcanic ash or tephra. An assessment of volcanic activity and the production of tephras provides the underpinning to a discussion of tephrochronology and 3-D environmental reconstruction using tephra layers. Detailed studies of tephra layers in Iceland are used to explore environmental change and human interactions with the environment. The teleconnections between tephra layers, ice cores, tree rings and ocean cores are assessed and compared to ideas about the widespread impacts of volcanic eruptions on culture and society. Change in marginal systems in Scotland is used to illustrate the context in which volcanic impacts are thought to occur. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | No |
Course Delivery Information
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| Delivery period: 2011/12 Semester 2, Available to all students (SV)
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WebCT enabled: Yes |
Quota: 41 |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| No Classes have been defined for this Course |
| First Class |
First class information not currently available |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours:Minutes |
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| Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May) | | 2:00 | | |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
1. To develop a detailed understanding of the principles and practice of tephrochronology
2. To critically evaluate the use of tephras to reconstruct environmental change and to asses the role of tephras as agents of environmental change
3. To assess the significance of different types of change and recognise the causes of threshold-crossing events
4. To develop a detailed knowledge of how to use tephrochronology to assess volcano-environment interactions, environmental and cultural change, human-environmental interactions and impacts of volcanism on people
5. To enable you to seek out and comprehend the essential relevant findings from literature in unfamiliar fields which will also mean you gain an understanding of the ways in which the subject is developed
6. To develop analytical skills and undertake independent research to analyse a professional level problem
7. To develop and improve skills in the use of the internet, giving oral and visual presentations to informed audiences, and critical writing |
Assessment Information
Class assessment: As outlined in course handbook
Degree assessment: One two-hour examination (2 questions) AND One project (2000 words) |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | GEGR10103 Volcanoes, tephrochronology |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Anthony Newton
Tel: (0131 6)50 2546
Email: Anthony.Newton@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Catherine Campbell
Tel: (0131 6)50 9847
Email: cathy.campbell@ed.ac.uk |
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© Copyright 2011 The University of Edinburgh - 16 January 2012 6:09 am
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