| Module Identifier |
GG33020 |
| Module Title |
SOIL, GEOCHEMISTRY AND ENVIRONMENT |
| Academic Year |
2004/2005 |
| Co-ordinator |
Dr Peter W Abrahams |
| Semester |
Semester 2 |
| Pre-Requisite |
GG10410 |
| Course delivery |
Lecture | 20 Hours |
| Assessment |
| Assessment Type | Assessment Length/Details | Proportion |
|---|
| Semester Assessment | 2 Hours examination | 50% |
| Semester Assessment | 2500 word course essay | 50% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Supplementary examination | 50% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Re-submission of failed coursework essay | 50% |
|
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
-
Critically describe and exemplify the ways in which human activities impact on the chemistry of soils.
-
Understand, identify and exemplify the impact of soil chemistry on the environment and the health of plants and animals, including humans.
-
Critically review appropriate literature sources on specific topics within the subject area.
Aims
The aim of this module is to provide students with knowledge of some of the environmental and applied issues that centre around soils, by concentrating primarily on how human beings have either deliberately or involuntarily altered the chemical status of this important resource.
Brief description
This module will study the impact of human societies on soil chemistry, and will consider the environmental consequences to plant and animal (including human) life. The module will include a historical approach to many of the issues covered, and will focus on many examples from the UK although, where appropriate, case studies elsewhere will also be provided.
Content
Provisional list of lecture topics:
Lecture 1: Introduction; a history of soil:human interactions
Lecture 2: Archaeology and soil chemistry
Lecture 3: Soils and fertilizers
Lecture 4: Soils and pesticides
Lectures 5 & 6: Trace element geochemistry; geochemical mapping; trace element imbalances in agricultural systems
Lecture 7 & 8: Soils and human health
Lectures 9 & 10: Soil acidification and the impact of acid rain on soils
Reading Lists
Books
Wild, A. (1993) Soils and the Environment: An introduction.
Cambridge University Press
Ellis, S. & Mellor, A. (1995) Soils and Environment.
Routledge
Selinus, O. (2004) Medical Geology.
Academic Press
Journals
Abrahams, P.W. (2002) Soils: their implications to human health. The Science of the Total Environment, 291, 1-32.
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 6