| CODE | EMP1023 | ||||||||||||||||
| TITLE | Earth Surface Processes and Landforms | ||||||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 6 | ||||||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Environmental Management and Planning | ||||||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit describes and discusses the geomorphological processes that operate at different time and spatial scales across the planet. The study-unit will first introduce students to the mechanisms by which sediment is produced at the Earth's surface, including weathering, biogenic and chemogenic sediment production, as well as fundamental principles of fluid flow, sediment transport, erosion and deposition. All aspects will be discussed both through qualitative frameworks and using quantitative techniques. The study-unit will then discuss how these processes operate in different environments to produce specific landforms. This understanding of Earth surface processes and landforms will then be applied in practice through an analysis of the physical landscapes of the Maltese Islands, based on local fieldwork sessions. Study-unit Aims: This study-unit aims: - To introduce students to basic principles of geomorphology; - To develop students' understanding of the link between Earth surface processes and landforms; - To make students aware of the various controls on geomorphological processes and how these operate differently at different time and spatial scales; - To develop students' practical skills in collecting and analysing geomorphological data. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Describe the key processes and related controls that shape physical landscapes; - Describe, quantify and explain key landforms produced by specific forces (e.g. water, wind); - Recognize the significance of time and space scales for recognizing process-form linkages in different environments; - Describe feedback loops between geomorphological processes and controls. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Analyze geomorphological features on maps, satellite imagery and aerial photos; - Use relevant field equipment correctly, including its operation, care and maintenance; - Draw a basic geomorphological map of a given area. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: - Bridge, J. S. and Demicco, R. V. (2008). Earth Surface Processes, Landforms and Sediment Deposits. Cambridge University Press. ISBN: 978-0-521-85780-2. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Attendance to scheduled sessions (lectures, field work, seminar, laboratory sessions and any other teaching session in whatever mode) is obligatory and only students having a satisfactory attendance will be assessed in the study-unit. Students, who do not attend at least 85% of the teaching time allocated to the study-unit, will not be allowed to sit for any of the assessment components mentioned below. | ||||||||||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Fieldwork, Lecture, Practical and Seminar | ||||||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Louis Francis Cassar Sebastiano D'Amico Belinda Gambin Julian Mamo (Co-ord.) |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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