Environmental Dynamics in the Anthropocene

Module description

This module will outline the causes and consequences of past, current and future changes to Earth’s atmosphere, climate and hydrological regimes, and examine paleo-environmental records and future projections of atmospheric composition and climate. It will inform students of the variety of methods used to derive information on these issues in order to quantity their magnitude, extent and significance. It will cover how humans are currently changing these aspects of the Earth's environment, and put this change in the context of past environmental changes and range of natural variability.

 

Students who complete this module will:

 

Understand the historic and geologic context for current environmental changes taking place within the Earth system, including an understanding of paleo-environmental records.
Understand the processes and drivers of the key terrestrial environmental changes (particularly in this case focusing on those related to atmospheric composition, to climate variability and change, and to related hydrological variations).Be able to critically analyse research covering the many multi-disciplinary aspects of global environmental change related to atmospheric and hydrological processes.
Be able to contextualise their understanding of noted and forecast anthropic environmental changes within the perspective of natural environmental variability.
Be able to evaluate strategies to adapt to, manage, mitigate and prevent environmental changes where necessary or desirable, particularly in the context of changes to Earth’s atmospheric composition, climate and hydrological regimes.
To be able to understand the impact of multiple environmental changes acting within the same landscape or environment.
Be able to understand future projections of atmospheric composition and climate in the context of past records.

Assessment details

500 word Formative Report (0%), 2000 Word Report with 5 data visualisations (100%)

 

Teaching pattern

20 hours lectures & practical classes

Module description disclaimer

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Please note that the module descriptions above are related to the current academic year and are subject to change.