Virtual Globe – Environmental Hazards

6 EC

Semester 2, periode 5

5131VGEH6Y

Eigenaar Bachelor Future Planet Studies
Coördinator dr. A.C. Seijmonsbergen
Onderdeel van Bachelor Future Planet Studies, jaar 1Minor Fysische Geografie, jaar 1

Studiewijzer 2021/2022

Globale inhoud

Welcome to the Virtual Globe - Environmental Hazards course!

Environmental hazards have large impact on society, e.g. on our behavior, our food security, our water resources, our climate and on the quality of the landscapes. Environmental hazards can have a huge impact, such as rapid events like volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, floods,  landslides and avalanches, while others are slow, and relate to climate (change), but can influence our society for long periods, such as desertification, weathering, soil erosion, permafrost melt, and more. The distribution, frequency of occurrence, the impact  and the extent of such hazards is of paramount importance, but often difficult to predict.

To fully understand the distribution, frequency, rate and impact of earth surface processes, lectures by geo-experts will be offered in the first part of the course, focusing on key earth science landforms and processes, that result from geological and geomorphological (weathering, fluvial, coastal, glacial/periglacial, mass movement and Aeolian) activity. Scientific understanding of the patterns of environmental hazards that were formed in the past, in combination with knowledge of the geomechanical, hydrological and rheological behavior of (sub) surface materials and the parameters that determine the rate and extent of environmental hazards is key to predict future hazards.

To combat such rapid and slow environmental hazards, we will identify both patterns and processes from satellite imagery and aerial photographs that are available on Google earth, as well as additional thematic information from historical air-photos, and thematic / topographical  maps. To fully understand the environmental situations across the globe, we will combine the geological, geomorphological, hydrological and topographical conditions to reconstruct, analyze, quantify and evaluate the environmental processes and hazards in a wide diversity of landscapes. For that we will extract information from the Virtual Globe that will serve as input in process-specific formulas, needed to quantify e.g. flow velocities of lava flows in volcanic settings, denudation rates in karst landscapes, slope stability analyses in mountains, permafrost melt rates in high latitude areas, and erosion power in river landscapes.

We will study the effects of  human interventions in the landscape and their corresponding stabilizing or destabilizing effects, in the light of future land use and land cover scenarios.

To do so, a student team will select an area which will be quantitatively analyzed and evaluated concerning past, current and future processes and actual and potential environmental hazards. The findings will be documented in a Virtual Globe project.

The VG - Env-H Team

Studiemateriaal

Literatuur

  • Christopherson & Birkeland: Geosystems - An introduction to Physical Geography, 9th edition - see Canvas modules for exact chapters and pages

Syllabus

  • Each laptop practical has additional information accompanied on Canvas - see modules section

Practicummateriaal

  • See Canvas: datasets, quizzes and tutorials will be published

Software

  • Google Earth Pro, Excel

Overig

  • Scientific calculator needed

Leerdoelen

  • Can explain the rock cycle, the geomorphological cycle and the hydrological cycle
  • Can identify and reconstruct the genesis of main exogenic and endogenic  landforms and processes in the context of the landscape
  • Can classify rocks and loose materials on the basis of their material properties at various scales
  • Can apply the mathematical formulas that describe the principles of physical and hydrological processes
  • Can quantify the speed, rate and impact of environmental hazards in the context of a landscape
  • Is able to create an environmental hazard impact assessment for a future scenario in the context of land use and land cover change

Onderwijsvormen

  • Hoorcollege
  • Zelfstudie
  • Zelfstandig werken aan bijv. project/scriptie
  • Werkcollege

The lectures will offer context to the laptop practicals of that week and are part of the study materials for the interim examination.

Verdeling leeractiviteiten

Activiteit

Aantal activiteiten

Totaal  uren

Lectures

8

16

Laptop practicals week  14 - 17

8

16

Question hour week 19

1

2

Practice exam from week 17

1

1
Self study week 14 - 17 and week 19  

54

Interim examination week 19

1

2

Lecture week 20

1

2

Laptop practicals 20 t/m 22

3

6

Self study week 20 t/m 22

 

69

Total

 

168

Aanwezigheid

Aanwezigheidseisen opleiding (OER-B):

  • Deelname aan veldwerk is verplicht en niet vervangbaar door opdrachten of andere cursussen.
  • In geval van een practicum is de student verplicht ten minste 90% van de practicumbijeenkomsten bij te wonen en zich op deze bijeenkomsten terdege voor te bereiden, tenzij anders aangegeven in de studiewijzer van het vak. Indien de student minder dan 90% heeft bijgewoond dient het practicum opnieuw te worden gevolgd.
  • In geval van werkgroepbijeenkomsten is de student verplicht tenminste 7 van elke 8 werkgroepbijeenkomsten bij te wonen en zich op deze bijeenkomsten terdege voor te bereiden, tenzij anders aangegeven in de studiewijzer. Bij meer dan 8 werkgroepbijeenkomsten geldt dat de student steeds per (deel van) 8 bijeenkomsten maximaal 1 bijeenkomst mag missen. Indien de student minder dan het verplichte aantal heeft bijgewoond, kan het vak niet worden afgerond.

Aanvullende eisen voor dit vak:

Make sure:

- to attend at least 90% of the practical  meetings at Science Park. Less attendance means that the course cannot be finished.

- to be prepared for the practical meetings: read instruction material in advance

- that absence, with valid reason, should be communicated with the responsible teaching assistant (cc. to the coordinator)

Toetsing

Onderdeel en weging Details

Eindcijfer

0.025 (2%)

Week 1 Tutorial 1 assignment

Moet ≥ 5 zijn

0.025 (2%)

Week 1 Tutorial 2 assignment

Moet ≥ 5 zijn

0.025 (2%)

Week 2 Tutorial 3 assignment

Moet ≥ 5 zijn

0.025 (2%)

Week 2 Tutorial 4 assignment

Moet ≥ 5 zijn

0.025 (2%)

Week 3 Tutorial 5 assignment

Moet ≥ 5 zijn

0.025 (2%)

Week 3 Tutorial 6 assignment

Moet ≥ 5 zijn

0.025 (2%)

Week 4 Tutorial 7 assignment

Moet ≥ 5 zijn

0.025 (2%)

Week 4 Tutorial 8 assignment

Moet ≥ 5 zijn

0.4 (40%)

Digital exam

Moet ≥ 5 zijn

0.4 (40%)

Project VG-EH

Moet ≥ 5 zijn

The week assignments have extended deadlines and prepare for the digital exam. The Digital exam is in the TestVision software. Google Earth will be used, and a calculator is allowed. The weekly exams can be retaken during the last week of the regular course.  The maximum score of these retakes is a 7.0.T he mean grade of  the individual assignments should be 5.5 or higher. For the project and the digital exam there is an official retake date. 

Toetsmatrijs (studentenversie)

Learning objective Tutorial 1/2 Tutorial 3/4 Tutorial 5/6 Tutorial 7/8 Digital exam Project
1. Can explain the rock cycle, the geomorphological cycle and the hydrological cycle x x x x x  
2. Can identify and reconstruct the genesis of main exogenic and endogenic  landforms and processes in the context of the landscape x x x x x  
3. Can classify rocks and loose materials on the basis of their material properties at various scales   x x x x  
4. Can apply the mathematical formulas that describe the principles of physical and hydrological processes   x x x x  
5. Can quantify the speed, rate and impact of environmental hazards in the context of a landscape   x x x x  
6. Is able to create an environmental hazard impact assessment for a future scenario in the context of land use and land cover change           x
             

Studenten die het vak al eerder hebben gevolgd

This course is a merger of two former courses, Virtual Globe (3EC) and 'Natuurrampen' (6EC). The following transition regulations are valid for this year:

- Students who attended 'Natuurrampen' can join the second part (project part) of the new course, during  which  an assignment is completed to fulfill the requirements of last year's course.

- Students who attended the former course Virtual Globe can join the first part of the new course to fulfill the requirements of last year's course

These students should contact the coordinator of this years course - Harry Seijmonsbergen - at least a week before the start of the new course, to decide what assignments or projects are mandatory to fulfill the requirements of last year's courses.

Inzage toetsing

Grades of week assignments will be opened after the deadlines. Feedback is automatically provided via Canvas.

The digital exam will be evaluated within 10 working days after which the grades will be announced via Canvas and the solutions of the exam will be published. Students can make an appointment with the coordinators/responsible assistants to review their work.

The project outcome can be reviewed through the feedback rubrik form. If necessary, the students can make an appointment with the coordinators/responsible teaching assistants for additional feedback.

Opdrachten

The 8 tutorial assignments will be individually assessed, feedback is automatically provided via Canvas. The digital interim exam is an individual, graded activity. The project is a team effort of two students and will be graded as a team, exceptions are possible.

Fraude en plagiaat

Dit vak hanteert de algemene 'Fraude- en plagiaatregeling' van de UvA. Hier wordt nauwkeurig op gecontroleerd. Bij verdenking van fraude of plagiaat wordt de examencommissie van de opleiding ingeschakeld. Zie de Fraude- en plagiaatregeling van de UvA: http://student.uva.nl

Weekplanning

Weeknummer + algemeen onderwerp Inhoud (overzicht) Studiestof - zie details op Canvas
14.  Introduction and volcanism

1. Course set-up, logistics

2. Volcanic processes and landforms and materials. Rheology / rate of lava flows

1. Lecture 

2. Lecture, Handout

 

15. Weathering and rocks

1. Identification of rocks - practical.

2. Weathering processes and landforms - chemical / physical, landscape denudation related to karst

1. Lecture, Handout

2. Lecture, Handout

16. Rivers and glaciers

1. Fluvial processes and landforms - erosion speed, Hjullstrom curve, gully and canyon formation

2. Glacial and periglacial processes and landforms - mass balances, GLOFs, methane release

1. Lecture, Handout

2. Lecture, Handout

17. Mass movements and coasts

1. Mass movement processes and landforms, slope stability and safety factor analysis 

2. Coastal processes and landforms, costal erosion, wave action and sedimentation

1. Lecture, Handout

2. Lecture, Handout

18.                                                                                                       No education activities
19. Digital exam Week 14 t/m 18 - see also Canvas announcements Study materials from weeks 14 to18
20. Project Environmental hazards Select topic via Canvas First part of the course + scientific literature
21. Project Environmental hazards Select topic via Canvas First part of the course + scientific literature
22. Project Environmental hazards Select topic via Canvas First part of the course + scientific literature

Rooster

Het rooster van dit vak is in te zien op DataNose.

Honoursinformatie

Not applicable

Aanvullende informatie

Not applicable

Vakevaluatie afgelopen jaar

Vanaf 2013-2014 hebben we ervoor gekozen om d.m.v. onderstaande tabel de studenten meer inzicht te geven in de kwaliteitszorg. Daarom nemen we een korte weergave van de studentenevaluatie op en de daaruit voortvloeiende acties ter verbetering van het vak.

Contactinformatie

Coördinator

  • dr. A.C. Seijmonsbergen

Lecturers

  • Harry Seijmonsbergen
  • Kenneth Rijsdijk
  • Walter van Dijk
  • Daniël Kooij
  • Astrid Ruiter
  • Anne Uilhoorn