Module Identifier EA22810  
Module Title GEOHAZARDS  
Academic Year 2007/2008  
Co-ordinator Dr John P Grattan  
Semester Semester 2  
Course delivery Lecture   9 lectures x 2 hours  
  Seminars / Tutorials   1 computer seminar x 2 hours  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Exam2 Hours EXAMINATION 1 seen question and 1 unseen question.100%
Supplementary Exam2 Hours RESIT EXAM  100%

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
Describe the dynamic pressures which lead to hazard events and how these might be mitigated.

Be able to use online resources to research hazard events and establish long term trends in their occurrence.

Be able to assess risk in a wide variety of hazard contexts.

Be able to propose effective mitigation strategies.

Brief description

The module will study historic trends in hazard events and examine the social and cultural background to many avoidable disasters. Examples will range from Hurricane Rita and New Orleans, though tsunamis, riverine floods, earthquake, montane and glaciological hazards, environmental hazards ( eg. soil erosion, pollution, pandemics) and volcanic eruptions.

Content

1. Historic trends in hazard events

2. The geography of hazard events and disaster recovery.

3. Tsunami events, cause and mitigation.

4. Riverine floods, cause and mitigation.

5. Earthquakes, cause and mitigation.

6. Montane and glaciological hazards.

7. Volcanic regions of the world.

8. Environmental hazards.

Module Skills

Problem solving Developed in assessment of risk and its mitigation  
Research skills Developed in preparation for seen exam.  
Communication Not specifically developed  
Improving own Learning and Performance Not formally addressed  
Team work Not formally addressed  
Information Technology Developed through use of online resources reporting and recording hazard events.  
Application of Number Statistical analysis of hazard data.  
Personal Development and Career planning Not formally addressed  

Reading Lists

Books
** Recommended Text
Alexander, D. (1993) Natural Disasters UCL
Bell, F.G. (1999) Geological Hazards Spon
Blaikie, P. et al. (1994) A Risk Routledge
Maund, J.G. & Eddleston, M. (1998) Geohazards in Engineering Geology. Geological Society
McGuire, B., et al. (2002) Natural Hazards and Environmental Change Arnold
Torrence, R. & Grattan, J.P. (2002) Natural Disasters and Cultural Change Routledge

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 5