Module GEOG2531: GLACIERS AND GLACIATION

Department: Geography

GEOG2531: GLACIERS AND GLACIATION

Prerequisites

• None

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• To provide an understanding of glacier systems
• To provide an understanding of the erosional and depositional landforms and sediments produced by glaciers
• To provide an understanding of how glaciers interact with the ocean-climate system
• To develop skills in identifying, mapping and analysing glacial landforms and deposits

Content

• Glacier systems and mass balance
• Water in glaciers
• Glacier flow
• Marine glaciers and ice shelves
• Glacier erosion: processes and landforms
• Glacier deposition: processes and landforms
• Glacial sediments
• Ice marginal environments
• Glacier landsystems
• Glaciers and climate change

Learning Outcomes

• Students are expected to be able to display knowledge and understanding of glacial and related processes
• Show ability to identify glacial and related landforms, and to discriminate between different glacial-related deposits

• Demonstrate skills on morphological mapping and apply and convey their knowledge of stratigraphic interpretation
• Execute a project on a specialised topic concerned with one of the module's themes

• Students will be able to:
• abstract information from multiple sources
• analyse information from multiple sources
• interpret information from multiple sources

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• To provide students with an outline of key debates in the topic area, to discuss the literature that students should explore, and give examples and case studies at a range of different spatial and temporal scales
• The student preparation and reading time is partly devoted to writing the formative assessment essay and partly to the general and specific reading suggested by staff in lectures
• The fieldwork considers the effects of the last ice sheet and the Loch Lomond Stadial in Northern England
• The project allows students to acquire and practise skills in the analysis of maps and air photos for glacier-related mapping
• The project gives students an opportunity to explore a specialised topic, e.g. interpreting landforms from aerial photographs and maps
• The fieldwork and tutorials provide a forum for discussion of the reading, the fieldwork and the project.
• The end of the year examination is a summative test of students' knowledge, understanding and analytical skills

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

One formative essay is submitted at the end of the Michaelmas Term -- feedback is provided (5 x sides A4 (excl maps etc))

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University