Module GG2021: Changing Worlds
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Module Co-ordinator: Michael Quigley |
This module integrates human and physical geography and is linked to GG2202: Collection and Analysis of Geographical Data.
Physical Geography
Geomorphology: Fluvial processes and geomorphology including mass-movements and hill-slope processes drainage basins, sediment transport, channel morphology and landscape evolution.
Hydrology and water resources: The global hydrological cycle and the basin hydrological system with particular reference to conditions in Ireland. The importance of water to humans, water as a hazard (floods) and the globalisation of water (water footprints).
Biogeography and Conservation: Building on the material of the JF Geoecology sub-module which examined the geographical distribution of living organisms as a response both to various limiting environmental conditions and to the in-built tolerance of species to environmental gradients, this section of the SF Changing Worlds course will focus first, on the geographical significance of various positive and negative interspecific relationships within ecosystems including competition, predation, mutualism etc. It will then examine, on various spatial and temporal scales, the historical dimensions of the dynamics of species distribution by exploring the effects of evolution, migration and extinction of species as a response to environmental change.
Human Geography
The world system is currently in a period of rapid spatial change, commonly known as globalization. The human geographical component of the course examines the rise and restructuring of the current world system from a geographic perspective. The first section introduces the processes and geographical patterns of European overseas expansion, c.1400 - c.1700. The Portuguese, Spanish and Dutch overseas empires are examined from a comparative perspective. China's experience of overseas expansion in the early fifteenth century is also considered.
The next two sections examine issues relating to globalisation and economic and political geography. Particular attention is given to developments in Asia and Africa.
The final section of the Changing Worlds module addresses how human geography is approaching the relationship between humans and their environment in an increasingly globalised world.
Learning Outcomes: On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
• Identify important topics and themes in contemporary physical and human geography;
• Appraise some of the major current debates in Geography.
Module Breakdown: Contact hours (Lectures = 44 hrs); Additional Input (Essay = 40hrs;
Reading = 126 hrs; Revision/Examination = 40 hrs). TOTAL = 250hrs.
Key texts:
Charlton, R. (2007). Fundamentals of Fluvial Geomorphology. Routledge
Collier, P. (2007). The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries are Failing and What Can be Done About it. Oxford University Press.
Holden, Joseph (2005) An Introduction to Physical Geography and the Environment, 2nd edition. Prentice Hall. 800 pp
Huggett, R. (2004). Fundamentals of Biogeography. Routledge
Huggett, R. (2007). Fundamentals of Geomorphology. Routledge
Huggett, R. (2007). The Natural History of Earth. Routledge
Willis, K. (2005). Theories and Practices of Development. Routledge
Assessment: 3 hour examination (80%); course work (20%)
Files available to download (internal access only)
Course notes as taught by Professor Pete Coxon
SF GG2021 Bio section(MQ).pdf [Mr Michael Quigley]
A Geographical perspective on poverty - gray and mosley (pdf 150kb)
The political ecology of war - Le billon (pdf 150kb)
Advancing a Political Ecology of Global Environmental Discourses - Adger et al 1 (pdf 250kb)
Environmental security 1 - Nils Peter (powerpoint ppt 1MB)
Environmetal security 2 - Nils Peter (ppt 1MB)
Environmental security 3 - Nils Peter (ppt 6MB)
Prof Anna Davies' lecture material (internal access only)
Lecture 1 Introduction: the rise of environmentalism in a changing world
Lecture 2 Environmental Politics: non-governmental organisations
Lecture 3 Environmental Politics: greening government and green parties
Lectures 4 and 5 Environmental Justice
Sample exams:
GG2021 CHANGING WORLDS SAMPLE EXAM.docGG2021 Schol Exam sample.doc