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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Geosciences : Earth Science

Undergraduate Course: Earth Modelling and Prediction 2 (EASC08018)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Geosciences CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryA mathematical description of Earth systems can both aid in prediction of these systems and lead to deeper understanding. In addition, many disciplines in the geosciences are becoming increasingly quantitative. This course is designed to give students mathematical skills needed to understand geoscience problems involving differentiation, integration, differential equations and the derivation of conservation equations. These topics are presented in a geoscience context, with techniques applied to environmental fluid mechanics, geochemistry, geomorphology, glaciology and thermal properties of the Earth.

Students will learn through problem sets, online quizzes, readings and tutorial sessions.
Course description A mathematical description of Earth systems can both aid in prediction of these systems and lead to deeper understanding. In addition, many disciplines in the geosciences are becoming increasingly quantitative. This course is designed to give students mathematical skills needed to understand geoscience problems involving differentiation, integration, differential equations and the derivation of conservation equations. These topics are presented in a geoscience context, with techniques applied to environmental fluid mechanics, geochemistry, geomorphology, glaciology, thermal properties of the Earth and other geoscience topics.

Week 1: Introduction, application of mathematics to natural systems
Week 2: Differentiation
Week 3: Applied differentiation and integration
Week 4: Integration and partial differentiation
Week 5: Applied partial differentiation and multiple integrals
Week 6: Conservation equations: introduction
Week 7: Conservation equations: derivation using Taylor expansion and divergence theorem
Week 8: Examples of conservation equations
Week 9: More examples of conservation equations
Week 10: Can we do this in a computer? and review

Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2014/15, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  75
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 30, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 9, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 157 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 50 %, Coursework 50 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) 50% coursework, consisting of 4 assessed quizzes. 50% exam

The assessment consists of 4 marked problem sets and a two hour final examination. In aggregate these will be worth 50% of the mark. Each problem set will be weighted in tems of the marks. The examination if worth 50% of final mark.

PROBLEM SETS
There will be 4 problem sets. Each will be marked out of 100 (the will contain 25-50 questions each). Once learns mathematical techniques through repetition of problems, so these problem sets are essential if students are to meet the course objective of being able to apply mathematical techniques to geoscience problems. Problems similar to those on the problem sets will be presented in tutorials, so attendance in tutorials is essential.

OWN WORK ON PROBLEM SETS
Students are encouraged to study in groups. However, when completing problem sets students are expected to solve problems independently. You cannot learn this subject if you do not solve problems yourself. Submission of identically worked problem sets, particularly if they have the same wrong answer, or problem sets whose answers do not match up with the work shown, may be flagged for plagiarism enquiry.

EXAM
The exam will consist of short answer questions and will be worth 50% of the overall course mark. Students shoudl expect questions broadly similar to those on the problem sets. We will distribute a mock exam which will be the same format as the exam at the end. The exam questions will vary in difficulty; there will be questions that test the basics and questions that only students who have studied beyond the lectures can answer. Remember over 70 is a first and a mark of 90 or above indicates truly exceptional work.

Assessment deadlines
Problem Set 1 (Differentiation): 12 Noon Thursday of week 4
Problem Set 1 (Integration): 12 Noon Thursday of week 6
Problem Set 1 (Ordinary differential equations): 12 Noon Thursday of week 8
Problem Set 1 (Partial Differential Equations): 12 Noon Thursday of week 10
Feedback Not entered
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May)2:00
Resit Exam Diet (August)2:00
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Differentiate simple equations
  2. Integrate simple equations
  3. Solve simple differential equations
  4. Derive and solve conservation equations for natural systems
Reading List
Stroud and Booth, Engineering Mathematics, Palgrave MacMillan
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsCalculus; conservation; statistics
Contacts
Course organiserDr Daniel Goldberg
Tel: (0131 6)50 2561
Email: Dan.Goldberg@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMrs Nicola Muir
Tel: (0131 6)50 4842
Email: Nikki.Muir@ed.ac.uk
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