env2egl climate and landscape change
CLIMATE CHANGE AND LANDSCAPE EVOLUTION
ENV2EGL
2019
Credit points: 15
Subject outline
This subject covers the landscape and climate history of the earth, emphasising the changes that have occurred in Australia and highlighting the last 2 million years. The causes and effects of climate change are discussed, with detailed consideration of current climate change due to rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. The landscape is shaped by both surface processes (rivers, waves and wind) and tectonic influences (volcanoes and earthquakes), and these are discussed along with the fundamental concepts of weathering, stratigraphy, deposition and erosion. The subject also deals with the impacts of climate and landscape change on the evolution of vegetated landscapes across the globe, in particular the role of fire in shaping major ecosystems of the Australian continent and how Aboriginals affected the megafauna and forests.The excursion integrates different aspects of the lecture material to develop a landscape, climate and vegetation history of the Geelong region.
SchoolSchool of Life Sciences
Credit points15
Subject Co-ordinatorJohn Webb
Available to Study Abroad StudentsYes
Subject year levelYear Level 2 - UG
Exchange StudentsYes
Subject particulars
Subject rules
PrerequisitesN/A
Co-requisitesN/A
Incompatible subjects ENV3EGL
Equivalent subjectsN/A
Special conditions This subject is co-taught with ENV3EGL, but uses lower order marking criteria than in ENV3EGL.
Learning resources
Readings
| Resource Type | Title | Resource Requirement | Author and Year | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Readings | Climate change | Recommended | Burroughs, W.J. | CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS, 2001 |
| Readings | Global geomorphology | Recommended | Summerfield, M. A. | LONGMAN 1991. |
| Readings | Quaternary environments | Recommended | Williams, M. A. J. | EDWARD ARNOLD 1993. |
Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes
01. Describe the basic processes that control the present climate, the data used to interpret past climates, and the climate history of the earth
- Activities:
- Introduction of techniques and concepts in lectures and more detailed explanation in the laboratory/practical sessions. Demonstrator assistance available during laboratory/practical sessions. End-of-semester examinationand reports based on laboratory/practical classes and an excursion.
02. Define the processes underlying recent climate change
- Activities:
- Introduction of techniques and concepts in lectures and more detailed explanation in the laboratory/practical sessions. Example problems discussed and demonstrator assistance available during laboratory/practical sessions. End-of-semester examination and reports based on laboratory/practical classes.
03. Describe the surface and tectonic processes that shape the landscape, and understand how the landscape of Victoria was formed by these processes
- Activities:
- Introduction of techniques and concepts in lectures and more detailed explanation in the laboratory/practical sessions. Demonstrator assistance available during laboratory/practical sessions. End-of-semester examinationand reports based on laboratory/practical classes and an excursion.
04. Describe the influence of climate, landscape and tectonics on the major components of global vegetation, e.g rise of the grasslands, and understand how the modern Australian vegetation has evolved, including the impact of Aboriginals
- Activities:
- Introduction of techniques and concepts in lectures and more detailed explanation in the laboratory/practical sessions. Demonstrator assistance available during laboratory/practical sessions. End-of-semester examinationand reports based on laboratory/practical classes and an excursion.
05. Analyse the climate and landscape history of an area from field observations and data provided, in orded to write a report with coherent explanations supported by evidence in grammatically correct prose and use of key vocabulary.
- Activities:
- Reinforcement of techniques and concepts provided in lectures and practicals with onsite explanation during the excursion; demonstrator assistance also available. Guidelines for excursion report given to students.
06. Apply numerical calculations and graphical representations to manipulate and interpret data, in order to solve complex constructed and real-world problems involving climate change and landscape development.
- Activities:
- Demonstrator assistance available during laboratory/practical sessions, along with guidelines for lab reports. Multiple lab/practical reports give students opportunity to receive feedback and improve the quality of their work.
Subject options
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Melbourne, 2019, Semester 1, Day
Overview
Online enrolmentYes
Maximum enrolment sizeN/A
Enrolment information
Subject Instance Co-ordinatorJohn Webb
Class requirements
LectureWeek: 10 - 22
One 1.0 hours lecture per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.
Laboratory ClassWeek: 10 - 22
One 3.0 hours laboratory class per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.
Field TripWeek: 21 - 21
One 1.0 days field trip per study period on sunday during the day from week 21 to week 21 and delivered via face-to-face.
LectureWeek: 10 - 22
One 2.0 hours lecture per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-hour end-of-semester examination | 40 | 01, 02, 03, 04, 05 | |
| Excursion report (500-words) | 20 | 01, 03, 04, 05 | |
| Laboratory/practical exercises (10 reports, 1,000-words equivalent ) | 40 | 01, 02, 03, 04, 06 |