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School of Physical and Geographical Sciences  
 
 
ESC-40015 MGeoscience: Natural Hazards  
Co-ordinator: Dr Jamie Pringle    Room: WSF10B, Tel:33163  
Teaching Team:  
Lecture Time: See Timetable...  
Level: 4 Credits: 15 Study Hours: 150  
School Office:
 
 
 
Programme/Approved Electives for

Geology Major (Level 4)
Geoscience Single Honours (Level 4)

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Prerequisites

Option module for all MGeoscience students who have been allowed to progress to the final year (i.e. year 4) of the course.

Barred Combinations

Not available to those students who have taken module ESC-30009 (Natural Hazards).

Description

This module examines the causes and characteristics of a broad variety of natural hazards and their destructive impact on human society. these hazards range from small-scale to large-scale events, from relatively minor disturbances to catastrophic disasters, and are associated with both environmental and anthropogenic triggers. Particular attention is paid to the assessment of risk and the steps that can be taken to prevent or mitigate the damage and disruption associated with these processes.

Aims

  • To provide a systematic understanding of the causes of a variety of natural hazards that are informed by material at the forefront of the discipline.
  • To investigate the potential impacts of natural hazards on human society and infrastructure, and to evaluate the measures that can be taken to mitigate their destructive effects
  • To develop critical, analytical and advanced problem-based learning skills and communicate via poster, technical report writing and oral presentation formats.


Intended Learning Outcomes

Describe the causes and dangers associated with specific natural hazards will be achieved by assessments: 1,2,3
Assess the risk posed by natural hazards in a variety of hypothetical situations will be achieved by assessments: 3
Describe the techniques that can be used to predict and mitigate the impacts of natural hazards and evaluate the most appropriate measures for varying circumstances will be achieved by assessments: 1,2,3


Study hours

21 hours lectures
20 hours lecture preparation/directed reading
2 hours workshop (advice on poster &report assignments)
1 hour seminar
23 hours poster presentation
33 hours group report preparation
50 hours independent study (including exam revision.


Description of Module Assessment

01: Poster Presentation weighted 25%
A2 poster presented in electronic form
Titles will be provided broken down into volcanic, seismic &geomorphological hazards. Physical causes, human impact &mitigation must be covered. Digital A2 poster will be clearly structured, scientific &expected to be fully referenced to recent studies. Advice will be given.

02: Group Report weighted 25%
2000 word technical group report
Group-based exercise, undertaking risk assessment &recommendations on mitigation of natural hazard in a variety of group-chosen real-world scenarios. 2,000 word digital technical report to be submitted. Must be professionally and scientifically written. Advice will be given.

03: Unseen Exam weighted 50%
2 hour written exam.
Students will answer three questions from a choice of six, broken down into 2 volcanic, 2 seismic &2 geomorphological.


Version: (1.06B) Updated: 03/Oct/2013

This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.