| Unit name | Hydrosphere 2 |
|---|---|
| Unit code | GEOG25050 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Professor. Michaelides |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
All units in Single Honours Geography Year 1 |
| Co-requisites |
All units in Single Honours Geography Year 2 on B Syllabus |
| School/department | School of Geographical Sciences |
| Faculty | Faculty of Science |
This unit comprises two elements: ‘Hillslope Hydrology’ (Dr Katerina Michaelides) and ‘Flood Hazards’ (Prof Paul Bates). It will provide a comprehensive introduction to hydrological and erosional processes on hillslopes, and river hydraulic processes relevant to flooding and flood inundation.
Hillslope processes govern the way water is routed to river channels within basins and form the fundamental starting point in the hydrological analysis of a basin. Without understanding processes that govern flow quantities, pathways and timings through slopes we have limited ability to determine flooding processes, biogeochemical transport, and responses of drainage basins to climatic changes. Therefore, this module will focus on hillslope hydrological processes and their impact on basin-scale hydrology, as well as on erosional processes.
Flooding is the world's most frequent natural disaster and is expected to cost the world economy $1Tn by 2050. In the UK alone we spend over £1Bn per annum on flood prevention, and geographers play key roles in managing flood risk within central and local government, the insurance sector, the Environment Agency and in specialist consultancies. This module provides an introduction to flood risk science, and in particular focuses on how flood risk is estimated. The module will give an overview of recent fundamental scientific developments that are transforming our ability to manage floods.
Aims: o To understand hillslope processes affecting the generation of surface and subsurface water flows and their impact on erosion and basin-wide hydrological response o To provide an introduction to flood risk, how it is calculated and how it is managed o To introduce the basic physical concepts and equations which represent these processes o To introduce come of the concepts and methods involved in developing and applying physically-based models of these processes
On completion of this Unit students should be able to:
A subsidiary aim of this element is to introduce a number of essential (and transferable) mathematical concepts in a manner suited to the mixed ability background of geographers. One of its major roles is to facilitate development of numeracy skills necessary for geographers to compete with other scientists and engineers for careers. In addition it will encourage the development of an ability to critically evaluate technical material.
Lectures (20 x 1 hour) and a practical (1 x 3 hours)
Hornberger, G.M, J.P. Raffensperger, P.L. Wiberg and K.N. Eshleman (1998) ‘Elements of Physical Hydrology’. John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore (Geographical Sciences, E ELE)
Jones, J.A.A. (1997) ‘Global Hydrology: Processes, Resources and Environmental Management’. Longman, Harlow. (Geographical Sciences, E JON; Wills Memorial Buidling GB661.2 JON)
Pender, G and Faulkner, H. (eds), Flood risk science and management, Wiley-Blackwell, Chichester, UK, pp. 211-233. [ISBN: 978-1-4051-8657-5].
(All chapters available online through UoB, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/book/10.1002/9781444324846)
