Unit name | Micropalaeontology |
---|---|
Unit code | EASCM0040 |
Credit points | 10 |
Level of study | M/7 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1B (weeks 7 - 12) |
Unit director | Professor. Schmidt |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
n/a |
Co-requisites |
n/a |
School/department | School of Earth Sciences |
Faculty | Faculty of Science |
This unit will cover the major biological approaches used to quantify and understand the Earth System. These include the biology of the major groups of fossilised plankton and the use of microfossils in reconstructing paleo-temperatures, water depth, productivity and oxygen levels in the ocean. These methods will be applied to major transitions in Earth history (e.g. initiation of Northern Hemisphere glaciation, Pliocene warmth, Paleocene-Eocene Boundary) aiming to introduce the students to uncertainties in reconstructing past climates and limitations of the methods.
On successful completion you will be able to:
Lectures and practicals
An unseen 2 hour theory examination based on material covered in both lectures and practicals (80%).
Presentation at the end of the unit on a current topic, based on suggested reading and the course content (20%).
Assessment will be completed in accordance with the University Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes, available online at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/esu/assessment/codeonline.html and School marking criteria for oral presentations.
RECOMMENDED
Further reading will be provided in each lecture to complement the content.