Module Information
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 20 Hours. |
| Practical | 10 Hours. |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | WORKSHOP REPORTS | 20% |
| Semester Assessment | 2500 WORD ESSAY | 30% |
| Semester Exam | 2 Hours WRITTEN EXAMINATION | 50% |
| Supplementary Assessment | RESUBMISSION OF FAILED COURSEWORK | |
| Supplementary Exam | 2 Hours WRITTEN EXAM |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
Describe and explain natural hydroclimatological variability at a variety of spatial scales
Describe the methods used to reconstruct records of past hydroclimatological change
Describe and explain the fundamentals concepts and methods used in both the atmospheric and hydrological sciences
Discuss the interactions between: precipation, evaporation, interception, soil moisture, snow and ice, and stream flow
Discuss the 'contemporary' challenges in hydroclimatology resulting from increasing human impact upon processes within the hydrological cycle
Aims
The aim of this module is to provide a detailed explanation of natural hydroclimatological variability through the analysis of past records of environmental change, to examine the contemporary (present day) processes controlling the behaviour of water in the atmosphere and at the Earth's surface, and to consider potential future challenges in hydroclimatology resulting from increasing human impact upon the air-land-water system. This module will adress these issues usin hypothetical and 'real-life' examples within lectures and workshops.
Content
- Introduction to hydroclimatology - past, present and future
- Instrumental records - (1) rainfall. Workshop (A) - Spatial and temporal rainfall variability
- Instrumental records - (2) temperature. Workshop (B) - Record homogenisation
- Instrumental records - (3) river flow. Workshop (C) - Reconstructing historical river flow records
- Historical and diary records - (1) river flow and (2) climate. Workshop (D) - Interpreting diary returns using phenology as an example.
- Palaeo records - varves, stalagmites and tree rings. Workshop (E) - Palaeo records
- Water in the atmosphere
- Climates of the British Isles
- Hydroclimatology of floods and droughts
- Climate change and water resources in Britain
Brief description
This module is split into three distinct sections: the first examines past climates and approaches to the examination of source materials. The second section addresses the current state of the hydroclimatological environment. The final lectures then examine the possible state and balance of the climate system. The workshops permit the students a greater understanding of the possible source materials through 'simple' problem based learning.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | Some workshops will involve numeric problem solving |
| Communication | Written skills developed through the reports presented from the workshops |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Independent reading |
| Information Technology | Use of simple equations within Excel required for workshops, detailed guidance provided |
| Personal Development and Career planning | Increased confidence in undertaking analytical tasks, working with data (workshops) |
| Problem solving | A problem based learning approach will be taken within the workshops, students will undertake the workshops with guidance notes, attempting to solve poblems based upon materials covered with the previous lecture |
| Research skills | Undertaken during independent reading and in the problem based learning workshops |
| Subject Specific Skills | Development and expansion on currently present skills base through workshops, particularly within Excel and Word. Experience of working with real data/information. |
| Team work | Some workshops will require small group work |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 6