Module GEOG2531: GLACIATION

Department: Geography

GEOG2531: GLACIATION

Pre-requisites

Corequisites

Excluded Combinations

Aims

• To provide an understanding how glacier-related systems vary, and affect landforms and deposits.
• To develop skills in identifying, mapping and analysing glacial landforms and deposits.
• To provide a foundation for level 3 elective modules which may include, inter alia, the Specialised Aspects 'Mountain Glaciation' and 'Antarctica'.
• To provide suitable approaches and topics for dissertations.

Content

• Glacier generation and flow.
• Relations of glaciers and ice shelves to atmosphere and oceans.
• Water in and from glaciers.
• Landforms of glacial and meltwater erosion and deposition.
• Glacier-related sediment-landform systems (glacial, glaciofluvial and glaciomarine).

Learning Outcomes

• Students are expected to be able to: Display knowledge and understanding of glacial and related processes.
• Show ability to identify glacial and related landforms, and to discriminate between different glacial-related deposits.

• Demonstrate skills on morphological mapping or stratigraphic interpretation.
• Execute a project on a specialised topic concerned with one of the module's themes.

• Abstract information from multiple sources.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• To provide students with an outline of key debates in the topic area, to discuss the literature that students should explore, and give examples and case studies at a range of different spatial and temporal scales.
• The student preparation and reading time is partly devoted to writing the tutorial essay and partly to the general and specific reading suggested by staff in lectures.
• The fieldwork considers the effects of the last ice sheet and the Loch Lomond Stadial in Northern England.
• The project allows students to acquire and practise skills in the analysis of maps, air photos or stratigraphy.
• The project gives students an opportunity to explore a specialised topic, e.g. interpreting glacial deposits in Northern England, or landforms from aerial photographs and maps.
• The tutorials provide a forum for discussion of the reading, the fieldwork and the project.
• The end of the year examination is a summative test of students' knowledge, understanding and analytical skills.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment

In line with Board of Studies policy for all Level 2 optional modules, formative assessment is provided through formative feedback on summative coursework.