|
 Academic Year: | 2018/9 |
| Owning Department/School: | Programmes in Natural Sciences |
| Credits: | 6 [equivalent to 12 CATS credits] |
| Notional Study Hours: | 120 |
| Level: | Certificate (FHEQ level 4) |
| Period: |
Semester 1 |
| Assessment: | EX 100% |
| Supplementary Assessment: |
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| Requisites: | |
| Description:
| Aims: To develop an understanding of natural processes occurring in the environment and how they are impacted by humans. Learning Outcomes: After studying this Unit students should be able to: * Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of a range of environmental science topics; * Recognise the experimental and analytical evidence for this knowledge; * Consider the implications of current environmental problems for living organisms and their life support systems. Skills: Learning and studying (T/F/A), Information handling and retrieval (T/F/A), Written communication (T/F/A), Working independently (T/F). Content: Introduction to the Earth as an Ecosystem including discussion on environmental challenges and the meaning of environmental sustainability. Biogeochemical cycles: carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur and water cycles and humans impact on these cycles. Hydrosphere: water as a unique chemical (physicochemical properties and environmental importance); water as a resource (distribution of global water resources, water shortage; (un)sustainability in water use); water pollution (including biodegradable waste, nutrients-eutrophication, pathogenic organisms, thermal pollution, toxic chemicals, acidity/alkalinity/salinity); water conservation and management (wastewater and drinking water treatment, water reuse, laws controlling water pollution and drinking water quality) Atmosphere: troposphere and its pollution (major classes of air pollutants, particulates, smog formation; photochemical and sulphurous, urban air pollution and measures to improve it; legislation and air quality standards); stratosphere (ozone layer and its importance; ozone depletion and human impact) Biomagnification and heavy metals Pesticides Radioactivity and nuclear reactors; reprocessing and waste storage Climate change and The Greenhouse effect. |
| Programme availability: NB. Postgraduate programme information will be added when the postgraduate catalogues are published in August 2018 |
XX10085 is Compulsory on the following programmes:Programmes in Natural Sciences
XX10085 is Optional on the following programmes:Programmes in Natural Sciences
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Notes:
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