Module GG1021: Introduction to Geography I
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Module Co-ordinator: Mr Quigley (mquigley@tcd.ie) |
This module aims to provide a basic introduction to the large-scale controls and processes that have influenced the physical landscape of the earth as a whole and that have provided the conditions for the evolution of a variety of life forms, species, habitats and ecological systems including those that led to and subsequently influenced human existence. While drawing on many principles within physics, chemistry, geology and biology this module has a distinctly geographical focus with an emphasis on the global scale.
The module will be taught in five sections:
1. Global geotectonic setting;
2. Global atmospheric & oceanic processes;
3. Climate change;
4. Surface processes of landscape development;
5. Global geoecology: soils and vegetation.
Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of this module students will be able to:- Demonstrate the importance of plate tectonics to the Earth sciences, and be able to explain how the distribution of continents and oceans has varied through time;
- Outline the physical evolution of Ireland and be able to place the geography of rock types in Ireland within their geotectonic setting;
- Describe the geography and character of major categories of rock types, and of volcanic and seismic events;
- Illustrate the structure and composition of the earth's atmosphere and oceans;
- Explain the heat budget of the earth and the ways in which heat imbalances are addressed;
- Describe the main atmospheric and oceanic circulation systems and linkages between the atmosphere and oceans;
- Discuss the role of atmosphere and oceans in weather and climate;
- Describe geographic variations in rock weathering regimes;
- Explain the processes that have created the various major types of landforms and the controls on landform evolution;
- Identify the different categories of soil, their properties and processes of formation;
- Describe the characteristics and extent of the major biogeographical units;
Key text: Holden, J. (2005). An Introduction to Physical Geography. Pearson. 696 pages
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Module Breakdown: Contact Hours (Lectures = 40hrs); Additional Input (Lecture-related reading and individual study = 130hrs; Course work reading and assessment = 40hrs; Revision and examination = 40hrs). TOTAL = 250hrs. |
Assessment: 3 hour examination (80%); course work (20%)
Files available to download (internal access only)
GlobalGeosystemsNotes.pdf(25Kb) [Mr Michael Quigley]
Reading_for_Tectonics(24Kb) [Mr Michael Quigley]
GG 1021 (Atmospheric Sect ).pdf(177Kb) [Mr Michael Quigley]
1 SOILS Introduction JF(PDF, 396Kb) [Dr David Drew]
2 SOILS Causes JF(PDF, 945Kb) [Dr David Drew]
3 Soils Human Impact JF.pdf(826Kb) [Dr David Drew]
JF SOILS READINGS etcGG1021.pdf(11Kb) [Dr David Drew]
Summary of js soils course.pdf(59Kb) [Dr David Drew]
Access course-related materials [Professor Peter Coxon]