Course Details in 2025/26 Session

Module Title	LI Geological Natural Hazards
School	School of Geog Earth & Env Sci
Department	Earth and Environ Sciences
Module Code	03 33860
Module Lead	Sebastian Watt
Level	Intermediate Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 1
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Lecture-20 hours Practical Classes and workshops-20 hours Guided independent study-160 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	This module examines the major geological natural hazards (earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, ground stability and landslide hazards, tsunamis, bolide impacts) in terms of driving geological processes and human impacts. The theoretical background behind each hazard is addressed, placing processes in a wider geological context, examining the key physical principles driving each process, and considering frequency and magnitude relationships.Concepts of risk and vulnerability are introduced via a range of case studies, examining factors that have led to natural disasters. Methods of hazard assessment and monitoring are investigated, with case-study examples, to consider the forecasting and mitigation of geological natural hazards.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Understand the nature, principal causes and the effects of a range of geological hazards Understand how geological and human factors determine hazards and risks associated with natural geological processes Understand monitoring and communication approaches for mitigating the impacts of a range of geological natural hazards, and how these vary between hazard types Evaluate mitigation strategies for geological natural hazards based on an understanding of potential impacts and vulnerability
Assessment	33860-01 : Hazards Report : Coursework (50%) 33860-08 : Canvas Exam : Exam (Centrally Timetabled) - Mixed (50%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment: Coursework - hazard report (50% in total). End of module examination (MCQ/short answer format) (50%). Reassessment: Reassessment based on submission of failed component(s)
Other
Reading List