| Unit name | Sea Level past, present and future |
|---|---|
| Unit code | GEOG30008 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Bingham |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None. A revision lecture will cover key glaciology and earth system concepts from Year 2. |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Geographical Sciences |
| Faculty | Faculty of Science |
With more the 10% of the world’s population, projected to exceed one billion by 2050, living in low-lying coastal regions, sea level rise is one of the most pressing consequences of global warming. Over the coming century, it will have a profound impact on the global economy and existing social structures. The world’s poorest will be the first to feel the impact. But even rich nations will struggle to defend themselves against rising seas and increased extreme weather events. Although sea level rise may seem a relatively simple concept and something that should be relatively easy to measure and project into the future, it is in fact challenging to both measure and model. Its measurement is confounded by the fact that we live on a rotating and deformable planet, still experiencing the effects of the termination of the last glacial period. Modelling sea level rise is challenging as sea level is driven by many factors, from the gravitational attraction of the moon and the ice sheets, to the energy exchange between the ocean and the atmosphere and the melting of mountain glaciers and ice sheets. The over-arching aim of this unit is to provide you with a clear understanding of these processes so that you will appreciate the reasons why sea level is rising and how we estimate past sea level rise through a combination of observations and modelling. Reliable estimates of future changes are crucial if we are to take appropriate action to mitigate and adapt to sea level rise. Therefore, we will examine how we use our knowledge of past sea level changes to project future sea level rise, and we assess the limitations of such methods. Since, the ice sheets are the most important driver of sea level rise over the long-term, these will be a particular focus of the unit. The unit will also examine the economic and social consequences of sea level rise.
After completing the unit, successful students should be able to:
19 one-hour lectures split into two themes:
In addition there will be 8 one-hour seminars, and one four-hour lab practical.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Assessment will be comprised of two essay-based summative assessments. Each will be worth 50% of the overall unit mark.
When assessment does not go to plan
Reassessments will be in the same format as the original assessment.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. GEOG30008).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an
assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
