Module GEOG3927: QUATERNARY OF THE LOW LATITUDES

Department: Geography

GEOG3927: QUATERNARY OF THE LOW LATITUDES

Prerequisites

• Any Level 2 Geography Module

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• This specialized module examines the nature of Quaternary environmental change (over the past ~2 million years) in low latitude areas not glaciated during the Quaternary, from the Mediterranean to New Zealand. This area, which includes arid, tropical, semi-tropical and temperate environments, holds some exceptionally long climate, temperature and sea-level records which greatly inform our understanding of global climate cycles and teleconnections between the northern and southern hemispheres during the Quaternary. We will look at some of these more poorly studied regions to investigate the types of environment considered, the methods and proxies used and compare them with northern Hemisphere and Arctic environmental records.

Content

• Deserts and arid environments
• Humid tropical environments
• Long lake records of environmental change
• Tropical oceans
• Causes and effects of the El Nino Southern Oscillation
• Rapid events in the Quaternary
• Local/regional/global connectivity

Learning Outcomes

• On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
• Describe the variety of proxy records that are available for reconstructing Quaternary climate change at low latitudes
• Understand the processes involved in producing different proxy records and be aware of the complexities involved in interpreting those records
• Understand how the low and high latitudes interact to drive global climate changes

• On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
• Synthesise the findings from different proxy records to form a coherent picture of Quaternary environmental change at low latitudes
• Critically evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of different techniques and their usefulness in reconstructing Quaternary environments

• On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
• Show analytical skills in the written, summative assignment
• Critical engage with complex literatures at the cutting edge of geographical research
• Present scientific information and debates in an oral presentation

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

• The module will be primarily lecture-based. These lectures will focus on the subject knowledge learning outcomes, and will be supplemented by extensive recommended reading of the academic literature. Lectures will also incorporate opportunities for students to discuss reading material relevant to that week’s topic. There will also be a tutorial where students will prepare mini presentations on different proxy records, and their usefulness in reconstructing Quaternary environmental changes will be debated

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Formative feedback on the mini-presentations delivered during the tutorial

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University