Course Catalogue

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This course will examine the physical processes that lead to geophysical, hydrological, atmospheric and biological hazards in order to develop an understanding of their causes and impact, and introduce a critical awareness of methods of hazard monitoring, prediction and mitigation. We will explore the spatial variability of risk and examine the media's role in disaster management. We will examine concepts such as "natural" hazards, risk, hazard perception, vulnerability and response to hazards in order to understand hazards within their political, social and economic context thus highlighting the necessity to study environmental hazards from both a physical and human geographical standpoint.

2 hour lecture weekly Plus additional 1 hour slot available for seminars

Fulfilment of entry requirements to Level 3 Geography (Students should have completed Level 2 Geography at minimum of grade D3) or Level 3 Environmental Geoscience

GEOG4106 - Environmental Hazards: Physical Processes

GEOG4107 - Environmental Hazards: Humans and Hazards

None

Assessment

1 essay (60%) at the end of the course

Group assessment/presentation (20%) part way through the course

1 Individual practical assessment (20%) part way through the course

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

■ To develop an understanding of the physical processes that lead to a range of geophysical, hydrological, atmospheric and biological hazards and develop an awareness of the impacts of those hazards

■ To introduce and develop a critical awareness of methods of hazard monitoring, prediction and mitigation

■ To explore and develop concepts of "natural" hazards, risk perception, and uncertainty from a geographical perspective

■ To introduce and develop concepts of vulnerability and critically assess models of vulnerability from the academic literature

■ To explore the spatial variability of risk, ideas of living with risk, risk assessment, the role of the media in disaster management, and society response and adjustment to hazards

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Explain the physical processes that lead to geophysical, hydrological, atmospheric and biological hazards

■ Discuss the interrelationships between different types of environmental hazard

■ Critically discuss methods of hazard monitoring, prediction and mitigation for each hazard type

■ Critically discuss concepts of "natural" hazards, risk perception, vulnerability, uncertainty, risk assessment and society response and adjustment to hazards

■ Critically analyse models of vulnerability and the media's role in disaster management

■ Show an awareness of the spatial variability of risk

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.