Keele Badge

ESC-20100 - Module Specification
School of Geography, Geology and the Environment
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2023/24 Last Updated: 13 February 2024

ESC-20100 - Water in the Environment
Coordinator: Katie Szkornik Room: WSF28 Tel: +44 1782 7 33614
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 5
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733615

Programme/Approved Electives for 2023/24

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

N/A

Barred Combinations

N/A

Description for 2023/24

This module aims to provide an overview of the role that water plays in different systems on Earth. The module examines the global hydrological cycle, and the basic chemical and physical properties of water. It explores the key characteristics, concepts and processes relating to water, and their variations in space and time, within the context of different Earth systems (e.g., water on land, in the oceans, in the atmosphere, and as ice). Students engage with open-access scientific data from, for example, the global ARGO network and the Environment Agency, to develop skills in presenting, interpreting and analysing quantitative data. Finally, the module explores the need for responsible and sustainable use of our global water resources, and how to manage water in the environment to this affect.

Aims
This module aims to provide an overview of the role of water in the Earth system by examining the global hydrological cycle, and the basic chemical and physical properties of water. It explores key charateristics, concepts and processes, and their variations in space and time, within the context of different Earth systems (e.g., water on land, in the oceans, in the atmosphere, and in the cryosphere). It aims to introduce students to the need for responsible and sustainable use of our global water resources, and how to manage water in the environment to this affect.

Intended Learning Outcomes

describe the global hydrological cycle, and the basic chemical and physical properties of water: 1,2
describe and explain the temporal and spatial variations in water characteristics and processes in different environmental systems on Earth: 1,2
present, interpret and analyse quantitative data in order to provide an overview of the current characteristics of one area of the Earth's oceans or seas: 1
present, interpret and analyse quantitative data in order to provide an overview of the physical, hydrological and chemical characteristics of a chosen river: 2

Study hours

15 hrs active learning sessions (e.g., flipped classroom approaches, in-class discusions, small group work and activities, coursework workshops).
135 hrs of coursework preparation and completion, follow up research and reading

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Report weighted 50%
Technical Report - Water in the Oceans
Students are required to write a technical report of up to 2000 words, on the current characteristics of one area of the World¿s oceans or seas (students choose their study area from a list of options). Students are required to select, download, interpret and discuss open-access scientific data (temperature and salinity) relating to their chosen study area. Full guidance on the structure and focus of the technical report will be provided in the module handbook.

2: Report weighted 50%
Technical Report - Water on Land
Students are required to write a technical report of up to 2000 words, on the physical, hydrological and chemical characteristics of a local river. Students are required to select, download, interpret and discuss open-access scientific data (from Digimap, the National River Flow Archive and the Environment Agency, as appropriate) relating to their chosen river. Full guidance on the structure and focus of the technical report will be provided in the module handbook.

Please note that for the 2022/23 Academic Year programmes may be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there may be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 13 February 2024