Search our site
Search our site

Land, Water and the Environment

  • Module code: GG5020
  • Year: 2018/9
  • Level: 5
  • Credits: 30
  • Pre-requisites: None
  • Co-requisites: None

Summary

First, an understanding of the fundamental principles of soil science is developed whereby the various soil properties and processes, including storage and transport of water in soil, are explained. This provides a good underpinning to developing an understanding of hydrology. Core principles of hydrology are explored both as theoretical physical science of hydrology and practical hydrological skills, which students gain through hands-on experience and investigations. This knowledge of soil and water sciences forms the essential base for introducing and explaining environmental pollution, including the impact of pollutants on environmental systems (soil, water, plants and air) and human health. It also discusses pollution mitigation and control strategies. Core learning material is provided via Canvas VLE with lectures that are designed to explain fundamental principles and concepts. Employability skills are embedded within the module and specifically include field and laboratory skills that are designed to develop surveying, recording, measuring, sampling, laboratory testing, data analysis, data interpretation and presentational skills.

Aims

  • To provide an understanding of the fundamental principles of soil science
  • To introduce the basic principles of the study of water as it occurs on, over and under the earth's surface.
  • To provide an understanding of how pollution arises, the multifaceted nature of pollution and how it can transfer between the environmental components, soil, air and water, and comprehend the impact of pollutants on environmental systems and strategies for pollution control.
  • To provide field sampling and laboratory analytical skills for soil and water contamination investigations.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

  • Have a comprehension of how the physical, chemical and biological properties/processes of soils are closely interrelated and an understanding of how these properties/processes influence soil fertility and functioning of soil as a dynamic system.
  • Identify and explain hydrological processes and their interactions.
  • Recognise the different techniques for measuring and monitoring hydrological processes, and practice the basic techniques of hydrological data collection and analysis.
  • Evaluate the scientific basis of pollution problems of a variety of environmental media.
  • Evaluate the feasibility and limitations of a range of strategies/practices for pollution control and remediation of polluted systems.
  • Have gained experience in designing and executing field assessment investigations, including choice of sampling methods, laboratory analyses, quality control and scientific report writing and presentation.

Curriculum content

  • Soil development and soil physical composition; soil texture, structure, stability, aeration and temperature, and how these influence soil properties and soil fertility. Soil water, its storage, supply and availability to plants.
  • Soil colloids - inorganic (silicate clays, oxides and hydroxides of iron, aluminium), their genesis and mineralogical organisation; organic soil colloids (humus) - their importance in nutrient and water supply; exchange/adsorption/desorption reactions on soil surfaces, effect of pH on surface charge and soil chemistry.
  • Soil as a biological system, soil colonisation, micro-organisms, meso-and macro-fauna, soil ecology and the biological processes - brief description of the biological processes occurring in soils (N-fixation, biodegradation/carbon turnover) and how they are influenced by environmental/management factors and the importance of soil micro-organisms.
  • Hydrological processes and their measurement, hydrometric networks and catchment studies; factors affecting stream flow; the mechanism and hydraulics of open channel flow, secondary currents and turbulence, rainfall-runoff and hydrograph analyses.
  • Relationships between the hydrological system with other physical systems; the nature and occurrence of groundwater movement, groundwater development.
  • Statistical analyses of hydrological data, flow duration curves, flood prediction, graphical presentation; case studies of hydrological investigation: selected case studies of catchment investigations from arid-land hydrology, urban hydrology and human impact on hydrological systems.
  • Introduction to polluted systems; basic principles, definition.  Characteristics of polluting substances, pollutant transformations and rate-determining steps.  Cause-effect control relationships; additive, synergistic, antagonistic effects; target organisms, toxicity and pollution transfer between environmental media.
  • Water Pollution: Sources and types of point and diffuse pollution; impact of pollutants on receiving watercourses; chemical and biological assessment methods for river pollution. Case studies of freshwater pollution, estuarine pollution and coastal pollution.
  • Land Pollution: Physical, chemical and biological properties of soils; influence on migration, bioavailability and persistence of pollutants in the soil environment. Case studies of solid waste disposal, pollution impact of mining, industry and agriculture.  Assessment and remediation of contaminated land.
  • Pollution Control: Introduction to pollution control strategy/technology, economic and legislative control. Concepts of precautionary principle, vulnerability and risk. The 1995 Environment Act and the role of the Environment Agency in pollution control in England and Wales.

Teaching and learning strategy

Fundamental principles and concepts about soil, hydrology and environmental pollution will be introduced during lectures, which will help establish the link between soil, water and pollution within the wider environment. The module will comprise a series of lectures, fieldwork and practicals together with guided reading. Understanding gained through lectures will be further reinforced by fieldwork, practical sessions and guided reading. Staff-led fieldwork will provide experience for hydrological data collection, and soil investigation and sampling techniques. Laboratory based soil and water analysis work builds on the fieldwork and the lectures; supporting workshops will introduce data analysis and interpretation skills. The practical work (field and laboratory) culminates two reports that assess students' skills in field and laboratory data collection, laboratory analytical, data analysis and interpretation and report writing. A final exam paper will assess students' understanding of key module principles and concepts. Employability skills are embedded within the teaching and learning strategy. Specifically, these include field and laboratory skills that are designed to develop surveying, recording, measuring, sampling, laboratory testing, data analysis and data interpretation.

Canvas VLE will be used to support all aspects of learning and teaching, providing a platform for articulating the module syllabus, assessment and feedback, archiving module-related resources (eg. specific reading materials) and a digital discussion platform.

Breakdown of Teaching and Learning Hours

Definitive UNISTATS Category Indicative Description Hours
Scheduled learning and teaching Lectures 40
Scheduled learning and teaching Practical 20
Scheduled learning and teaching Fieldwork 15
Scheduled learning and teaching Workshop 10
Guided independent study 215
Total (number of credits x 10) 300

Assessment strategy

Summative assessments comprise:

(A) Hydrology fieldwork report (20%, 1500 words)

(B) Soil and water investigation report (30%, 2500 words)

(C) End of module written examination (50%, 2.5 hours)

Formative assessment includes:

(D) In-class tests/quiz to assess students' ability to recollect basic information/knowledge on hydrographs, soil properties and conditions, data quality assurance/control, and chemical analysis.

Mapping of Learning Outcomes to Assessment Strategy (Indicative)

Learning Outcome Assessment Strategy
1) Have a comprehension of how the physical, chemical and biological properties/processes of soils are closely interrelated and an understanding of how these properties/processes influence soil fertility and functioning of soil as a dynamic system. (C) Examination and (B) Soil-Water analysis report supported by formative in-class quizzes and tests (D).
2) Identify and explain hydrological processes and their interactions. (C) Examination and Hydrology fieldwork report (A) supported by formative in-class quizzes and tests (D).
3) Recognise the different techniques for measuring and monitoring hydrological processes, and practice the basic techniques of hydrological data collection and analysis. (A) Hydrology report.
4) Evaluate the scientific basis of pollution problems of a variety of environmental media. (C) Examination supported by formative in-class quizzes and tests (D).
5) Evaluate the feasibility and limitations of a range of strategies/practices for pollution control and remediation of polluted systems. (B) Soil-Water analysis report.
Have gained experience in designing and executing field assessment investigations, including choice of sampling methods, laboratory analyses, quality control and scientific report writing and presentation. (A) Hydrology report and (B) Soil-Water analysis report.

Elements of Assessment

Description of Assessment Definitive UNISTATS Categories Percentage
Hydrology report Coursework 20%
Soil-water analysis report Coursework 30%
Written examination Written Examination 50%
Total (to equal 100%) 100%

Achieving a pass

It IS NOT a requirement that any major element of assessment is passed separately in order to achieve an overall pass for the module.

Bibliography core texts

Robinson M and Ward RC (2017) Hydrology: Principles and Processes. IWA Publishing, London.

Weil RR and Brady NC (2016) The Nature and Properties of Soils (15th edition). Pearson, London.

Bibliography recommended reading

Alloway BJ (2012) Heavy Metals in Soils (3rd edition). Springer, London

Hooda PS (2010) Trace Elements in Soils. Wiley, Chichester.

Jones JAA (1997) Global Hydrology. Longman, London

Miller GT Jr. (2007) Living in the Environment: Principles, Connections, and Solutions. Thomson Books

Newson MD (2008) Land, Water and Development: Sustainable and Adaptive Management of Rivers (3rd Ed), Routeledge, London.

Shaw E (2010) Hydrology in Practice (4th edition). Spon Press, New York.

Smol JP (2008) Pollution of Lakes and Rivers - a Paleoenvironmental Perspective (2nd edition). Blackwell Publishing, London.

Ward AD, Trimble SW, Burckhard SR, Lyon JG (2015) Environmental Hydrology (3rd edition). CRC Press, London.

Williams I (2002) Environmental Chemistry. Wiley, Chichester.

Find a course

Course finder

Find a course
>