Undergraduate - UnitATS3790 - Landscape processes

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2015 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

print version

6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Science
Organisational Unit	School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment
Offered	Not offered in 2015
Coordinator(s)	Associate Professor David Dunkerley

Notes

Previously coded GES3530

Synopsis

Considers hydrologic and erosional processes affecting landscapes generally, including splash, surface runoff, interrill, rill, tunnel and gully erosion. The 'landscape ecology' approach is stressed, emphasising the need to develop an integrated view of landscape function that recognises links between hydrologic and erosional processes and the nature and spatial distribution of biota, including vascular and non-vascular plants, and soil fauna. Field interpretation and analysis skills form the focus for afternoons of fieldwork (e.g. estimating flood sizes, patterns of hillslope erosion). Mapping, sampling, and analytical methods are introduced.

Outcomes

On completion of this unit, students will be able to:

identify and describe the processes involved in different types of erosion
exhibit a high level of skill in the range of field techniques required for understanding geomorphic processes
place hydrologic and erosional processes in the broader context of landscape function
display practical experience in field-based analytical techiques in a semi-arid environment

Assessment

Within semester assessment: 100%

Workload requirements

9 day intensive field-based unit, approximately 3 hours lectures and 3.5 hour fieldwork per day at a desert location.

Chief examiner(s)

Associate Professor David Dunkerley

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Geographical science

Prerequisites

A cornerstone unit in Geography, climate and physical environments or a 2nd-year unit in Geographical Science