| Unit name | Catchment Science: Hydrology, Ecology and Management |
|---|---|
| Unit code | GEOG30013 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Professor. Johnes |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
GEOG20011 Research Methods in Physical Geography |
| 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 |
Aquatic Environments are subject to immense pressures as a result of human activity. Located at the base of catchment systems, all activities in the catchment will ultimately have an impact on waters draining from the land to the water body, whether it is a small pond, a stream, river, estuary or the open ocean. This unit covers the physical, chemical and ecological processes controls on the function of the hydrosphere, and the response of catchments to environmental change.
The unit falls into two halves. The first half focuses on the processes which control the movement of water, sediment and chemical contaminants from land within a catchment to a water body and thence downstream from source to sea.
A full day field trip and laboratory class divides the first and second halves of this unit. This focuses on developing an understanding of the sources, pathways and impacts of nutrient and sediment pollution in a local catchment building on knowledge gained in the first half of the unit. Students work in groups, collect samples and bring them back for analysis in the linked laboratory class, where they will have access to and learn about instruments in our LOWTEX laboratories suites, used for our high resolution aquatic environments research at the University of Bristol. Students write up the field and lab element as an independent field report which comprises 35% of the assessment for this unit.
The second half of the unit considers how environmental change, in combination with these processes, leads to water quality problems in freshwaters and the coastal environment. Topics covered include
(1) Catchment biogeochemical function
(2) Process controls on nutrient and sediment flux to and cycling and transport within freshwaters
(3) Carbon flux from land to inland and coastal waters in peatland systems
(4) Impact of plastic contamination on the terrestrial ecosystem
(5) Sediment erosion and transport in agricultural catchments and impacts of fine sediment deposition in chalk streams, and
(6) Eutrophication of inland and coastal waters and impacts on ecosystem and human health.
Disruption of the global biogeochemical cycles (C, N and P) and the impacts of this disruption on aquatic ecosystems will form an overarching theme for this element.
Statement of unit aims
The objective of this unit is for students to gain an insight into how aquatic environments ‘work’, and how they are likely to respond to major drivers of environmental change. The specific aims are for students to gain an understanding of:
On completion of this Unit students should have:
The following transferable skills are developed in this Unit:
The unit will be taught through a blended combination of online and, if possible, in-person teaching, including
1 x 3500 word Field Report (50%) (ILOs 1-5)
2000 word essay (50%) (ILOs 1-5)
Students will work in groups to collect samples and undertake laboratory of these samples for the field report element, but must write up the field report as an independent piece of work.
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. GEOG30013).
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.
