This course aims to introduce the science of hydrology and emphasise the physical processes and their measurements. The course will describe the distribution, causes and effects of various water-related natural hazards, and methods of monitoring, prediction, and mitigation. The course will assess hazard level, vulnerability, and risk, and examine different approaches to reducing vulnerability for improving resilience.

Each week: 2 hours of lectures and up to 2 hours of seminar/workshop/project work, or all-day field trips

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1. Individual Report on mitigation planning for a natural hazard of student choice in a specified location (60%). [ILO 1, 2, 3, 4]

2. Group Project on creating a diagram of exploring the hydrological processes for flood risk mapping (40%). [ILO 2, 3, 4]

The course aims to enable students to:

1. Examine the science of hydrology, the physical processes and their measurements;

2. Explore the distribution, causes and effects of various water-related natural hazards, and methods of monitoring, prediction and mitigation;

3. Assess hazard level, vulnerability and risk, and identify examples of different approaches to reducing vulnerability;

4. Develop specific graduate attributes in areas such as investigation, independent work, critical analysis, communication, confidence.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the hydrological processes and their measurements, and utilise/manipulate the water balance equation;

2. Explain and assess the distribution, causes and effects of various water-related natural hazards, and methods of monitoring, prediction and mitigation;

3. Define natural hazard level, vulnerability and risk, and different approaches to reducing vulnerability for improving resilience;

4. Demonstrate investigative skills through their group project including critical analysis of the information available on their topic, independent work through their research, communication skills in the presentation, and confidence in drawing up conclusions based on their research.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.