2017/18 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

SOEE1433 Water in the Environment

10 creditsClass Size: 75

Module manager: Dr A Maycock
Email: earamay@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2017/18

Pre-requisite qualifications

GCSE General Science or equivalent

Module replaces

SOEE1432 Isues in Water Pollution

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

You will gain a general overview of the many important roles that water plays in the global environmental system. The module introduces the basic properties of water as a substance and explains why these make it a unique and important part of the terrestrial environmental system. By the end of the module you will have an understanding of the major components of the environmental system in which water plays a key role: the atmosphere, oceans, ice and land surface. The focus is on highlighting the diverse and interesting array of phenomena for which water is of fundamental importance, including climate change, storms, sea ice and glaciers, flooding and hydrology, and biodiversity in waterways and the oceans.The emphasis of the module is on providing a holistic view of water within the environmental system. This will act as a primer for more specialised modules at subsequent study levels. This module is taught in semester 1 and is assessed by a one hour MCQ (multiple choice) examination at the end of the course, three short MCQ tests during term, and a practical.

Objectives

The module examines the importance of water in the global environmental system. The module will introduce the major reservoirs of water on Earth: from the vast oceans, to rivers, snow and ice caps, and the role of water as a “fuel” for our weather and climate. There will be the opportunity to learn how human activities are changing our environment and the key role of water for shaping these changes. The practical will allow students to apply their knowledge to some real world research-orientated issues.

Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this module students will:

- understand the main ways in which water shapes the global environmental system;
- understand the global water cycle and the connections between the major reservoirs of water in the environmental system (ie atmosphere, oceans, ice etc);
- have knowledge of some of the major themes related to water in the environment including: climate change, sea ice and glaciers, the oceans and ocean biodiversity, hydrology, water quality, and flooding.

Syllabus

- The global water cycle
- Water and its basic physical and chemical properties
- Water in the atmosphere: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, clouds, observing water vapour from space
- Water and climate: water vapour as a greenhouse gas, role of water vapour in climate change, flooding
- Water in the oceans: the global ocean circulation and water transport, geochemistry and biodiversity
- Water as ice: sea ice, glaciers and ice sheets
- Water on land: rainfall, drainage, rivers, water pollution, human impacts on water quality

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	15	1.00	15.00
Practical	2	1.00	2.00
Private study hours			83.00
Total Contact hours			17.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Private study

Independent online learning and private study: Time for private reading to back up lectures (2x15=30hrs), preparation for practical (4hrs), and preparation for unseen exam (49hrs).

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Students will receive formative feedback via MCQ exercises during the course. These will help students prepare for the unseen examination at the end of the course. Students will undertake a practical that will be assisted by some of the module lecturing team and demonstrators (pending approval) giving the opportunity for further feedback.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
In-course MCQ	3x In-course MCQs	5.00
Practical	In class practical assessment	25.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		30.00

The re-sit for this module is by examination only

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Unseen exam	1 hr 00 mins	70.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		70.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 23/03/2016

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