Coastal Processes: Sea Level Change and Marine Hazards

GEOG61952 Coastal Processes: Sea Level Change and Marine Hazards 15 Semester 2 Postgraduate Taught Level 6 Geography 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Masters/Integrated Masters P4 ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 7.5 Week 1: Introduction to the course and assessment. The coastal zone. Importance of sea level change. Tides and sea level (2 hour lecture) (JB) 1 hour seminar on 'the worst case scenario') (JB) Week 2: The evidence for past sea-levels; raised beaches and buried land surfaces. 2 hour lecture, (JB) 1 hour seminar /workshop (JB). Week 3: Fieldwork (1 day): The coastal zone, dunes, and coring for evidence of previous sea-levels. Using borehole data to reconstruct sea-level change; precise surveying techniques. (JB, PR, JM) Week 4: Isolation basins, and modelling sea-level change (1 hour lecture). (JB) Lab class 1: Sediment stratigraphy and surveying results (2 hours). (JB, JM) Week 5: Diatoms and other microfossils as sea-level indicators (1 hour lecture). (PR) Lab class 2: Laboratory analysis of microfossils, 1 (2 hours). Submit field book for formative assessment. (PR, JB, JM) Week 6: Long term future SL changes and current trends (1 hour lecture). (JB) Lab class 3: Laboratory analysis of microfossils, 2 (2 hours). Notebook feedback.(PR) Week 7: Study week, with specific readings available through Blackboard. Complete lab work in unscheduled lab time if required. Week 8: Coastal Pollution (JR) Week 9: Dunes (2 hour lecture) (JB) Week 10: Study week (2nd year Fieldwork) Week 11: Research Proposal workshop (JB) Week 12: Coastal management theories, and course summary (2 hour lecture). (JB) Seminar: Case studies of process-based coastal management. ( 1 hour). (JB) Week 1: Introduction to the course and assessment. The coastal zone. Importance of sea level change. Tides and sea level (2 hour lecture) (JB) 1 hour seminar on 'the worst case scenario') (JB) Week 2: The evidence for past sea-levels; raised beaches and buried land surfaces. 2 hour lecture, (JB) 1 hour seminar /workshop (JB). Week 3: Fieldwork (1 day): The coastal zone, dunes, and coring for evidence of previous sea-levels. Using borehole data to reconstruct sea-level change; precise surveying techniques. (JB, PR, JM) Week 4: Isolation basins, and modelling sea-level change (1 hour lecture). (JB) Lab class 1: Sediment stratigraphy and surveying results (2 hours). (JB, JM) Week 5: Diatoms and other microfossils as sea-level indicators (1 hour lecture). (PR) Lab class 2: Laboratory analysis of microfossils, 1 (2 hours). Submit field book for formative assessment. (PR, JB, JM) Week 6: Long term future SL changes and current trends (1 hour lecture). (JB) Lab class 3: Laboratory analysis of microfossils, 2 (2 hours). Notebook feedback.(PR) Week 7: Study week, with specific readings available through Blackboard. Complete lab work in unscheduled lab time if required. Week 8: Coastal Pollution (JR) Week 9: Dunes (2 hour lecture) (JB) Week 10: Study week (2nd year Fieldwork) Week 11: Research Proposal workshop (JB) Week 12: Coastal management theories, and course summary (2 hour lecture). (JB) Seminar: Case studies of process-based coastal management. ( 1 hour). (JB) ' Study and explain the combined effects of both rapid and incremental processes on coasts - Introduce and apply a new range of field, laboratory and data-handling skills - Understand the science behind the current issues of sea-level change and coastal management By the end of the course unit, you should be able to: - Design and conduct research in the field of coastal change - Understand the combined effects of different processes on coastal landforms and sediments - Consider laboratory and field observations in the context of previous research - Develop a research proposal based on a review of existing data and key research gaps - Critically analyse existing research in the area of coastal processes Skills and employability: During this course unit, you will be encouraged to develop the following abilities and skills: - Field skills relevant to long-term coastal change and other fields (borehole sinking and recording, precise surveying); laboratory skills (diatom analysis, particle size analysis and sediment description). - Handling, displaying and interpretation of a large and complex data set. - PLEASE NOTE: you will be asked to use mathematical equations, for example using Excel and other data analysis packages. - Writing clear and analytical reports. - Developing a project proposal, including budgeting and time management. - Working in a group to produce a project proposal to a tight deadline. The course unit will be delivered via a combination of lectures, fieldwork, workshops (task-oriented), seminars (reading-based) and laboratory classes. The approximate breakdown, depending on numbers, will be 15 hours of lectures, 1 day or 6 working hours of fieldwork, 3 hours of seminars and workshops, and approximately 6 hours of laboratory work. Course information, lecture slides and reading (both reading lists and pdf files) will be available in blackboard. Blackboard will also be used to enable data sharing, and to continue an extended discussion of issues arising from the lectures and associated seminars. Links to external websites and video clips will also be used. 0 Other 100% 1. Assessment and comments on your field and lab notes, with preliminary interpretation, prior to the write-up stage (formative) 2. Report on sea-level changes in northwest England (60%). 3500 word (approx.) individual report, handed in at the end of week 10. This report includes a review, field results, laboratory data, numerical analysis of pooled data and a write-up in journal-paper format. 3. Research proposal on a theme of sea level change, past or future (40%). 2000 word (approx.) group submission, following a public sector models of proposal writing. Y Key texts Haslett, S.K. 2008. Coastal Systems 2nd edition. Taylor and Francis. Masselink, G. and Hughes, M. 2003. Introduction to coastal processes and geomorphology. Key Journals - Estuarine, Coastal and Marine Science - Marine Geology - Journal of Tsunami Science - Coastal Management - Journal of Coastal Research http://papers.risingsea.net/index.html 0 0 0 Information The course covers the physical geography of relevant, topical aspects of coastal processes. In 2013-4 the course will focus on sea-level change. This section will cover an understanding of the processes involved in sea-level change, past, present and future, and the science of reconstructing and predicting sea-levels. A significant field and practical element will include an investigation of an area of sea-level change and dune management (one day fieldtrip), laboratory work on the recovered sediments and a report on the long-term trend of sea-level in the area studied. The course will also cover coastal pollution, estuaries, wave processes and 'ICZM' approaches to coastal management.