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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2015/2016

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Geosciences : Earth Science

Undergraduate Course: Global Environmental Processes (EASC08007)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Geosciences CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThe course analyses the geological, chemical, physical and biological processes, together with their interactions, which determine the characteristics of the environment in which we live and how it changes with time. The course comprises three principal components: evolution of the Earth and the driving mechanisms for change; major physical and biochemical processes and how they change through time; understanding the operation of the 'Earth System'. It covers issues such as Earth origin, extinction events in Earth history, solar forcing of climate change, ice ages, natural archives of change from the oceans, ice sheets, lakes, etc., the history of the hydrological carbon cycle and other biochemical cycles, climate trends, El Nino events, human impact, global climate models and the future of the environment. The course is appropriately combined with Oceanography.
Course description Not entered
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Additional Costs none
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
Students will leave this course with a broad knowledge of Environmental Science as studied from a Geoscience perspective with an emphasis on biogeochemical processes that operate at the global scale. Students will gain a detailed knowledge of the inter-linked nature of the Earth System though a consideration of interactions between the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere. Students will be able to evaluate how well predictive methods compare with actual field measurements of precipitation, transpiration and run off. They will be able to use a range of theoretical and practical approaches to formulate evidence-based solutions. The academic précis assessment exercise will give students the chance to inform their understanding with a summary of some recent work.
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Course URL http://www.geos.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/earthsci/U01919/
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
Additional Class Delivery Information 3 hour(s) per week for 6 week(s).
KeywordsGEP_, Biochemistry, Global cycles; Evolution; Earth System; Climate Change; Climatic cycles
Contacts
Course organiserDr Rachel Wood
Tel: (0131 6)50 6014
Email: Rachel.Wood@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMrs Nicola Muir
Tel: (0131 6)50 4842
Email: Nikki.Muir@ed.ac.uk
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