Module GEOG30T7: CRYOSPHERIC CHANGE AND RISK

Department: Geography

GEOG30T7: CRYOSPHERIC CHANGE AND RISK

Prerequisites

• Any Level 2 Geography module

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• To develop theoretical understanding of physical processes related to present-day change in the global cryosphere, and the interaction between the cryosphere and the wider Earth system.
• To develop an interdisciplinary understanding of key challenges and risks emerging from the changing cryosphere in response to climate, environmental change, and anthropogenic activities.

Content

• This module is designed to promote student engagement with a range of contemporary issues emerging from a changing global cryosphere, and to learn about the processes associated with glacial, periglacial, and other cryospheric activity. The module also considers the environmental and socio-economic impacts of cryospheric change, including water, energy, and food security, and risks from cryospheric processes and hazards.
• indicative module content:
• Contemporary glacier and ice sheet change
• Climate-cryosphere interactions
• Hazards in the cryosphere
• Resource security in polar and mountain regions
• Contaminants and environmental risk
• Snow, river ice, and lake ice
• Permafrost change
• Socio-environmental impacts of the changing cryosphere
• Adapting to and mitigating cryospheric change

Learning Outcomes

• On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
• Understand the present-day cryospheric system and associated processes.
• Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of case studies related to environmental change and risk in polar and alpine regions.
• Assess the socio-environmental challenges arising from cryospheric change, and consider strategies for adaptation and mitigation.

• On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
• Undertake independent research on a topic related to changing polar and alpine environments, and present the findings of this research in an appropriate manner.
• Evaluate and discuss the nature of changes to the cryosphere in polar and alpine regions, and the impacts of these changes on the environment and people.

• At the end of this module, students are expected to be able to:
• Demonstrate critical evaluation of academic and other literature.
• Assess and interpret datasets and information from multiple sources.
• Effectively and professionally communicate key concepts for a target audience.

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

• The core content of this module will be delivered by lectures, supplemented by directed activities and reading.
• Workshops will provide students with an opportunity to explore and discuss key interdisciplinary issues around environmental change and risk in the cryosphere.
• The summative assessment takes the form of a POSTnote policy briefing and will assess student’s ability to communicate key socio-environmental challenges arising from cryospheric change to a policy-maker audience.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Formative verbal feedback will be provided during the workshops, which are designed to encourage students to think about the various challenges, stakeholders, and actions that could be explored further in the summative assessment.

■ 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