University of St Andrews

Key information

SCOTCAT credits : 15

ECTS credits : 7

Level : SCQF level 9

Semester: 2

Planned timetable: To be arranged.

Environmental Earth Science is inherently multi-disciplinary, but many environmental science courses focus on specific reservoirs of the Earth system (e.g., the atmosphere, oceans, or continental crust), rather than examining the system as a whole. The study of global biogeochemical cycling crosses these disciplinary boundaries, following specific elements as they are cycled through the Earth surface by physical, chemical, and biological transformations. This module will focus on the cycling of the five elements critical to life on Earth - carbon, oxygen, sulfur, phosporus, and nitrogen - using examples from both modern and ancient environments and their response to human influence. An emphasis will be placed on the understanding proxies utilised for unravelling these proccesses in the environment and in the rock record, along with modern quantitative methods used to constrain these cycles.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisite(s): Before taking this module you must ( take ES2002 or take ES2003 ) and take ES3008

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact: 2-hour lectures (x 6 weeks and only 1 hour in week 7) and 3-hour practical sessions (x 7 weeks).

Scheduled learning hours: 34

Guided independent study hours: 116

Assessment pattern

As used by St Andrews: 2-hour Written Examination = 50%, Coursework = 50%

As defined by QAA
Written examinations : 50%
Practical examinations : 0%
Coursework: 50%

Re-assessment: 2-hour Written Examination = 80%, Coursework = 20%, No Re-assessment if Coursework mark is less than 4

Personnel

Module coordinator: Dr A L Zerkle
Module teaching staff: Dr A Zerkle, Dr M Claire, Dr S Mikhail
Module coordinator email az29@st-andrews.ac.uk