Undergraduate Course: Soil, Water and Atmospheric Processes (ECSC08003)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | 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.
By the end of the course, students will have developed a broad knowledge of the connected near-surface processes that underpin gas, water and nutrient exchange 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. |
| Course description |
2016/17 course syllabus
Week 1: Introduction to SWAP
Weeks 1-2: System Inputs
Week 2: Case Study 1
Weeks 3-6: Internal System Dynamics
Weeks 7-9: System Outputs
Week 10: Case Study 2
Week 11: Conclusions and revision
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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 |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2017/18, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| 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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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
65 %,
Coursework
35 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Assessment: Written Exam: 70%; in-course assessment: 30%
Additional Info: The Degree Exam in June will cover theory and practical aspects of the course. 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.
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| Feedback |
Students will receive formative feedback from Teaching Assistants following the tutorials. Verbal feedback will be given during weekly practical classes. Feedback will be given on summative assessment at the end of the course and all students will be invited to an examination feedback session following release of course results. Examples of feedback can be found here: http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/geosciences/teaching-organisation/staff/feedback-and-marking |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
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| Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May) | | 2:00 | | | Resit Exam Diet (August) | | 2:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Display a range of routine skills such as carrying out soil and water quality surveys, constructing a water balance for a catchment and showing how it is affected by a change in land use, constructing an energy balance for a range of surfaces, 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
- Understand the errors involved in measurements of soil, water and meterogoical properties
- Critically analyse some of the main concepts associated with the functioning of the soil, water and the atmospheric systems.
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Reading List
- Rose, C.W. (2004) An Introduction to the Environmental Physics of Soil, Water and Watersheds, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Although this textbook is the closest fit to the course content it does not cover all aspects of the course material. You will therefore need to consult the textbooks listed below. Many textbooks are in the Reserve sections of University libraries; if there are any difficulties in obtaining these books, please let the Course Organiser know.
- Oke, T.R. (1987) Boundary Layer Climates. 2nd Ed. Routledge. ISBN 0415043190 (the best textbook for the Atmosphere section of the course)
- Ashman, M. R. and Puri G. (2002) Essential soil science: a clear and concise introduction to soil science. Blackwell Scientific, Oxford. (A good basic textbook, suitable for this course but not for more advanced environmental science study).
- Brady, N. C. and Weil, R. R. (2008) The Nature and Properties of Soils (14th Ed). Pearson Education. (The latest edition of the classic soil textbook which goes beyond this course and will stand you in good stead for most undergraduate soil science).
- Ward, R.C. and Robinson, M. (1999). Principles of Hydrology (4th Ed). McGraw - Hill. (Well-respected hydrology textbook with good coverage of hydrological processes. Will stand you in good stead for most undergraduate hydrology. The 3rd Ed is also suitable).
- Davie, T. (2002) Fundamentals of Hydrology. Routledge. (A good basic textbook, cheaper to buy than Ward and Robinson).
Please see the course handbook for information about supplementary reading and further information about readings for each lecture.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
3 one-hour lectures per week.
Various practical and tutorial sessions.
Please see detailed course timetable on Learn for full details of class delivery |
| Keywords | SWAP |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof John Moncrieff
Tel: (0131 6)50 5402
Email: Cinzia.Discolo@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Matthew Hathaway
Tel: (0131 6)51 7274
Email: |
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