ES2S201 - Climate Change 01 Jul 2022 - 31 Aug 2028 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: ES2S201
Module Title: Climate Change
Faculty: Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science
Faculty Group: Chemical and Environmental Sciences
Faculty Sub Group: Earth and Environmental Science
Module Leader: Angela Morris
Module Team: Anthony Harris, Emma Higgins
First Intended Intake: SEP 2022 Final Year of Intake: 2027
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 5
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 101070 - climate change
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Jul 2022
Valid To 31 Aug 2028

Module Aims

To critically examine the causes, consequences and records of climatic change on a variety of spatial and temporal scales from natural and anthropogenic causes.

To enable students to gain perspective on the causes and impacts of climate change at different spatial and temporal scales.

The module will also encourage students to engage with the academic literature, including journal articles, to develop experience in academic research techniques.

In engaging with the module appropriately, students will fully achieve level-appropriate Behaviour Domains of the following USW Graduate Attributes:

Commercial Awareness - Behaviour Domains 1, 2, 3

Communication - Behaviour Domains 1, 2, 3

Leadership - Behaviour Domains 1, 2, 3

Innovation and Enterprise - Behaviour Domains 1, 2, 3

Project Management - Behaviour Domains 1, 2, 3

Digital Literacy - Behaviour Domains 1, 2, 3

The Capabilities associated with these behaviours are found in the Graduate Attributes table at the end of the descriptor.

Content Summary

Internal and external forcing mechanisms as causes of natural climate change on a variety of spatial and temporal scales. The importance of multidisciplinary studies for considering climate change.

Terrestrial, marine and ice records of climatic change for abrupt and longer-term driving mechanisms. Field evidence for climate change with different causes, operating at different time-scales and magnitudes.

Climate system shifts and thresholds.

Past abrupt climate changes with environmental and anthropogenic impacts.

Anthropogenic causes of climate change. Records of recent climate change. Anthropogenic and natural causes of recent climate change against longer-term perspectives.

Environmental impacts and consequences of recent climate change.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 38
Practical classes and workshops 4
Fieldwork 6
Independent Study 106
Directed Study 30
Groupwork 10
Problem / challenge based learning 6
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Critically consider the evidence for, and the relative importance of natural and anthropogenic causes of climate change.
LO2 Assess the impacts of climate change on natural and human systems.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Synchronous Onsite Oral Assessment Presentation (Synchronous Onsite) 1 A prepared oral presentation by a candidate before assessor(s) and possibly peers, where knowledge, technical content, ability to answer questions and presentational skills are assessed. 15 N/A 50 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Poster 1 A two- dimensional visual representation of information on a specific topic, aimed at a particular audience without the need for the author's presence. 0 1500 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Presentation (Synchronous Onsite) 1
Poster 1

Reading List

Anderson, D., Goudie, A. S., and Parker, A., (eds.) 2013. Global Environments through the Quaternary: exploring environmental change (2nd edn.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Bell, M., and Walker, M. J. C., 2005, Late Quaternary environmental change: physical and human perspectives (2nd edn.). Harlow: Pearson.

Cowie, J., 2012. Climate Change: biological and human aspects (2nd edn.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

IPCC, 2013. Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Lowe, J. J., and Walker, M. J. C., 2014. Reconstructing Quaternary Environments (3rd? edn.), London: Longman.

Mackay, A., 2005. Global Change in the Holocene. London: Arnold.

Melieres, M.-A., Marechal, C., 2015. Climate Change: past, present, and future. Chichester: Wiley.

Roberts, N., 2014. The Holocene: an environmental history (3rd edn.). Oxford: Blackwell Publishers.

Ruddiman, W. F., 2013. Earth's climate: past and future. (3rd edn.) New York, Freeman.

Williams, M., Dunkerly, D., DeDecker, P., Kershaw, P., and Chappell, J., 1995, Quaternary Environments (2nd edn.), London: Arnold.