Ice Age Earth (L7029)
Ice Age Earth
Module L7029
Module details for 2022/23.
15 credits
FHEQ Level 5
Module Outline
This module examines the ways in which the earth's environmental and climatic processes have changed during the recent Ice Ages (corresponding to approximately the last 2.6 million years). You will explore the physical, biological and chemical evidence for these past changes using a range of different proxy records (including ocean sediments, ice cores, stable isotopes and fossil plants and insects), and couple this with an assessment of natural forcing mechanisms, geological dating techniques and earth-surface processes. This broad, interdisciplinary approach also includes a practical component, in which you will employ a range of field and laboratory techniques to derive a palaeoenvironmental history from a local site. The module provides a valuable 'palaeo' perspective from which to evaluate the evidence for contemporary anthropogenic global warming and associated environmental changes.
Module learning outcomes
Understand the evidence for, rates, causes and consequences of Ice Age (i.e. Quaternary) environmental change
Integrate and critically interpret different types of palaeoenvironmental data in order to reconstruct Quaternary environments
Appreciate the methodology, applications and problems of different palaeoenvironmental techniques
| Type | Timing | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Essay (1500 words) | Semester 2 Assessment Week 2 Tue 16:00 | 50.00% |
| Coursework | 50.00% | |
| Coursework components. Weighted as shown below. | ||
| Report | T2 Week 6 | 100.00% |
Timing
Submission deadlines may vary for different types of assignment/groups of students.
Weighting
Coursework components (if listed) total 100% of the overall coursework weighting value.
| Term | Method | Duration | Week pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Semester | Lecture | 1 hour | 22222220222 |
| Spring Semester | Practical | 4 hours | 00111100000 |
How to read the week pattern
The numbers indicate the weeks of the term and how many events take place each week.
Dr Simon Rycroft
Assess convenor
/profiles/8703
Dr Yi Wang
Assess convenor
/profiles/251633
Prof Mick Frogley
Convenor
/profiles/125380
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