Environmental Geoscience BSc
Environmental Hazards GEOG4090
- Academic Session: 2026-27
- School: School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
- Credits: 20
- Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
- Typically Offered: Semester 1 (Alternate Years)
- Available to Visiting Students: Yes
- Collaborative Online International Learning: No
- Curriculum For Life: No
Short Description
This course will examine the physical processes that lead to geophysical, hydrological, atmospheric and biological hazards in order to develop an understanding of their causes and impact, and introduce a critical awareness of methods of hazard monitoring, prediction and mitigation. We will explore the spatial variability of risk and examine the media's role in disaster management. We will examine concepts such as "natural" hazards, risk, hazard perception, vulnerability and response to hazards in order to understand hazards within their political, social and economic context thus highlighting the necessity to study environmental hazards from both a physical and human geographical standpoint.
Timetable
2 hour lecture weekly Plus additional 1 hour slot available for seminars
Excluded Courses
GEOG4106 - Environmental Hazards: Physical Processes
GEOG4107 - Environmental Hazards: Humans and Hazards
Co-requisites
None
Assessment
Assessment
1 essay (60%) at the end of the course
Group assessment/presentation (20%) part way through the course
1 Individual practical assessment (20%) part way through the course
Main Assessment In: April/May
Course Aims
■ To develop an understanding of the physical processes that lead to a range of geophysical, hydrological, atmospheric and biological hazards and develop an awareness of the impacts of those hazards
■ To introduce and develop a critical awareness of methods of hazard monitoring, prediction and mitigation
■ To explore and develop concepts of "natural" hazards, risk perception, and uncertainty from a geographical perspective
■ To introduce and develop concepts of vulnerability and critically assess models of vulnerability from the academic literature
■ To explore the spatial variability of risk, ideas of living with risk, risk assessment, the role of the media in disaster management, and society response and adjustment to hazards
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
By the end of this course students will be able to:
■ Explain the physical processes that lead to geophysical, hydrological, atmospheric and biological hazards
■ Discuss the interrelationships between different types of environmental hazard
■ Critically discuss methods of hazard monitoring, prediction and mitigation for each hazard type
■ Critically discuss concepts of "natural" hazards, risk perception, vulnerability, uncertainty, risk assessment and society response and adjustment to hazards
■ Critically analyse models of vulnerability and the media's role in disaster management
■ Show an awareness of the spatial variability of risk