ESC-20110 - Module Specification
School of Geography, Geology and the Environment
Faculty of Natural Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

Glaciers, volcanoes, coastal erosion, floods... studying Earth¿s spectacular landscapes is increasingly significant in the context of climate change and its impacts on human and physical environments. Landscapes tell us about Earth¿s past, but also help us face the future as we battle natural hazards such as landslides and work to safeguard resources such as fresh water. This module explores Geomorphology, the science of landscapes, using a global range of examples supported by student-led analysis of remotely-sensed imagery and new scientific research. The Earth is characterised by a remarkable diversity of spectacular landscapes that reflect complex connections between environment, process and form. Landscapes are constantly changing and evolving in response to the influence of a range of controls including climate change, plate tectonics, and human activity. This module explores this diversity in global landscapes with a specific focus on a series of case study examples that illustrate the ways in which landscapes are changing over time, with implications for humans as well as the rest of the natural environment.

The module's primary aim is to help students develop a clear geomorphological understanding of landscapes, and of landscape change over time, at local and global scales. The second aim is to increase students' confidence and ability in working with remotely-sensed imagery and in using high-level peer-reviewed research sources. We focus on the connections between environment, process and form in landscape development, and the module is designed to give students the opportunity to:
- investigate geographically variable controls on geomorphic processes, and their impact on landscape diversity;
- consider landscape change over short and long-term timescales, including the accelerating impacts of climate change, and the implications of landscape change in both human and environmental contexts;
- make detailed explorations of a range of case study landscapes using remotely-sensed imagery and research literature.

Intended Learning Outcomes

identify and explain spatial variability in geomorphic processes, and the associated diversity of landforms and landscapes, at local and global scales: 1
describe and explain the changing nature of the Earth's landscapes over time in relation to key controls such as climate change and plate tectonics: 1
use remotely-sensed imagery to identify, interpret and illustrate a range of global landscapes at local and global scales: 1
illustrate the dynamic, plural and contested nature of the subject area, and explain the role played by geographers, geoscientists and environmental scientists in advancing knowledge and understanding through both academic and applied research: 2
engage effectively with high-level peer-reviewed research publications as sources of information: 2

Study hours

22 hours Interactive lectures
22 hours weekly engagement with online learning materials related to lectures
22 hours weekly research on journal resources including online discussion
22 hours weekly research finding satellite imagery including online discussion
31 hours Independent work on Assessment 1 (Album of Satellite Images)
31 hours Independent work on Assessment 2 (Annotated Bibliography)

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment