Undergraduate Course: Soil, Water and Atmospheric Processes (ECSC08003)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Ecological Science |
Other subject area | Environmental Courses |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | The study of the near-surface processes that underpin the exchange of gases, water and nutrients at the scale of the organism to the landscape. This course provides a background in soil science, environmental physics and hydrology required to tackle issues such as land degradation, climate and land use change and microclimate modification. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Delivery period: 2014/15 Semester 2, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Learn enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
|
Web Timetable |
Web Timetable |
| Course Start Date |
12/01/2015 |
| Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 28,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 3,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 16,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 1,
Formative Assessment Hours 6,
Summative Assessment Hours 2,
Revision Session Hours 1,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
139 )
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| Additional Notes |
|
| Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) |
Written Exam
65 %,
Coursework
35 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
|
| Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May) | | 2:00 | | | Resit Exam Diet (August) | | 2:00 | |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will have developed a broad knowledge of the near-surface processes that underpin the exchange of gases, water and nutrients at the scale of the organism to the landscape. Students will gain an understanding of soil science, environmental physics and hyrology which will enable them to tackle professional issues such as land degradataion, climate and land use change and microclimate modification by following routine lines of enquiry. Students will be expected to be able to:
- Explain how microclimate can be modified, the factors affecting the drainage of a soil, how rainfall reaches river channels and explain the role of soil organic matter in soil fertility and structure
- Students will learn a range of routine skills such as:
o Being able to carry out both soil and water quality surveys
o Constructing a water balance for a catchment and showing how it is affected by a change in land use
o Constructing an energy balance for a range of surfaces
o Calculating return periods for extreme events such as floods and drought
- Appreciate the interaction between surface water and groundwater in the catchment hydrological cycle
- Understand how distinct soil horizons and soil series develop under the influence of factors such as parent material, topography and climate
- Discuss the principles of energy exchange in organisms
- Understand the errors involved in measurements of soil, water and meterogoical properties
- Discuss the factors (including pH and CEC) affecting the availability and the fixation of essential nutrients and potentially toxic elements in soil
- By the end of this course, students will be able to critically analyse some of the main concepts associated with soil, water and the atmosphere. |
Assessment Information
| Degree examination 65%; in-course assessment 35%. In-course assessment consists of 3 practical reports/worksheets, 3 tutorial hand-ins and a multiple choice test. The 2 hour degree examination contains two sections: A and B. Section A comprises compulsory multiple choice questions. Section B is a short answer section in which students answer 4 questions from a choice of 9 and answer a minimum number of 1 question each from the sections on atmosphere, water and soil. |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | SWAP |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr John Moncrieff
Tel: (0131 6)50 5402
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Meredith Corey
Tel: (0131 6)50 5430
Email: |
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