units

ATS3790

Faculty of Science

18 September 2017 25 April 2024

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This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2016 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.

Monash University

6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

Undergraduate - Unit

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

Faculty

Science

Organisational Unit

School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment

Coordinator(s)

Associate Professor David Dunkerley

Offered

Not offered in 2016

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:

  1. identify and describe the processes involved in different types of erosion
  2. exhibit a high level of skill in the range of field techniques required for understanding geomorphic processes
  3. place hydrologic and erosional processes in the broader context of landscape function
  4. 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.

See also Unit timetable information

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