Module Identifier |
GG23710 |
Module Title |
POLAR ENVIRONMENTS |
Academic Year |
2007/2008 |
Co-ordinator |
Professor Neil F Glasser |
Semester |
Semester 1 |
Course delivery |
Other | 5 hours surgery sessions for essay review (5 x 2 hours) |
|
Lecture | 16 Hours. 8 x 2 hours |
Assessment |
Assessment Type | Assessment Length/Details | Proportion |
Semester Assessment | 4000 word essay review | 100% |
Supplementary Assessment | Resubmission 4000 word essay review | 100% |
|
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:-
-
Describe the geology of, and the physical processes operating in, the Arctic and Antarctic
-
Explain the way in which physical processes affect the activities of human populations in the Arctic and Antarctic
-
Discuss the ways in which polar politics impinge on economic development of polar regions
-
Critically evaluate the ways in which global environmental change will influence the polar regions, and vice versa
-
Assimilate and review scientific data, and critically evaluate it in a professional quality, fully referenced and illustrated report
Brief description
The module (i) provides a summary of the physical processes operating in both polar regions in order to understand the factors controlling these processes; (ii) examines the response of human populations to the polar environments, both historically and at the present day; (iii) evaluates the significance of polar regions in the context of global environmental change; and (iv) analyses the political framework under which scientific and commercial activity takes place.
Content
LECTURES
-
Introduction: information sources; Svalbard: portrait of an Arctic island.
-
Geological evolution of the Arctic
-
Antarctica and global change: an earth science perspective
-
Unravelling Antarctica's glacial history
-
Exploration of Antarctica
-
Human environmental impact and management on Antarctica
-
Science and the British Antarctic Survey; Earth Science research strategy and the International Polar Year
-
Human environmental impact on the Arctic
The above lecture content is supplemented by self-study materials on blackboard, including more in-depth analyses of the geology and physical environment, climate, periglacial processes, history of exploration and scientific research.
Module Skills
Problem solving |
N/A |
Research skills |
Undertaken during independent reading and in the writing of the essay review |
Communication |
Written: assignment to professional standards |
Improving own Learning and Performance |
Independent reading of primary literature and Web |
Team work |
Some informal teamwork may be undertaken in lecture room connection with a polar quiz during session 1 |
Information Technology |
Competency in critically using web sources; word processing; graphical representation |
Application of Number |
N/A |
Personal Development and Career planning |
N/A |
Subject Specific Skills |
N/A |
Reading Lists
Books
** Recommended Text
Dowdeswell, J.A. & Hambrey, M.J. (2002) Islands of the Arctic
Cambridge University Press
Hanson, J.D. & Gordon, J.E. (1998) Antarctic Environments and Resources
Longman, Harlow, Essex 0582081270
** Supplementary Text
Armstrong, T., Rogers, G. & Rowley, G. (1978) The Circumpolar North
Methuen & Co., London 0416169309
Harris, C. & Stonehouse, B. (eds.) Antarctica and Global Climatic Change
Belhaven Press, London 1852931876
Laws, R. (1989) Antarctica - The Last Frontier
Boxtree Ltd., London 1852832479
Sugden, D. (1982) Arctic and Antarctic - a Modern Geographical Synthesis
Blackwell (Oxford) 0631136134
Walton, D. W. H. (Ed.) (1987) Antarctic Science
Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 052126233X
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 5