Module GEOG30I7: EARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDSCAPE EVOLUTION

Department: Geography

GEOG30I7: EARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDSCAPE EVOLUTION

Prerequisites

• GEOG2611 Mountain Landscapes

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• To develop theoretical understanding of the processes and dynamics of sediment production, transport, deposition, and landscape evolution in non-glaciated upland landscapes.
• To provide practical training in how to extract geomorphic information from topographic data; how to analyse estimates of erosion and uplift rates; and how to run simple models of landscape evolution.

Content

• Block 1: The Critical Zone – Soil and Hillslope Geomorphology - Soils and weathering - Sediment transport on hillslopes
• Block 2: Sculpting Mountains – Fluvial Erosion and Sediment Transport - Theories of fluvial incision into bedrock - The structure and organisation of river networks - Techniques for measuring erosion and denudation
• Block 3: Allogenic Controls on Landscape Process and Form - Climate’s fingerprint on Earth surface processes - Tectonics and topography - Life and landscape evolution - Numerical models of landscape evolution

Learning Outcomes

• On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
• Demonstrate advanced levels of knowledge on the processes that shape non-glaciated mountainous landscapes including i) hillslope sediment production and transport; ii) incision by fluvial processes; and iii) the impact of external forcings such as climate, tectonics, and life.
• Understand and apply techniques that are used in modern geomorphological research including topographic analysis, numerical models, and measurement of process rates using cosmogenic radionuclide analysis and thermochronology.

• On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
• Extract and analyse topographic metrics from digital elevation models.
• Run simple models of landscape evolution using the Python programming language.
• Critically evaluate current geomorphic research by linking lectures and practicals to published material.

• Critical analysis and interpretation of data at a level appropriate for dissertation research.
• Communicate effectively and professionally in written, oral and graphical media.
• Apply numerical and computational skills to complex datasets.

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

• The lectures will provide detailed knowledge of landscape-forming processes in upland non-glaciated landscapes, and links with allogenic forcings such as climate, tectonics, and life. They will also cover key techniques used in research geomorphology to quantify topography and measure erosion, uplift and denudation.
• Each lecture will be directly linked to a following practical which will allow students to apply the concepts from the lectures. These will be primarily computational and will allow the development of numerical skills and experience in handling complex datasets. Students are expected to be familiar with GIS packages (e.g. ArcGIS, QGIS) and will be introduced to simple programming in Python. Two of these practicals will be summatively assessed.
• Students will be required to carry out an independent project, where they will be given a choice of topics linked to the key blocks of the module. They will be expected to apply the techniques introduced during the lectures and practicals to an upland landscape of their choice. This will be assessed formatively by a short presentation and then summatively in a final project report at the end of Term 1.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Oral formative feedback during student presentations (~8-10 minutes) on their independent project.

■ 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