NIGK17014U Coastal Geoscience

Volume 2024/2025
Education

MSc Programme in Geography and Geoinformatics
MSc Programme in Geography and Geoinformatics with a minor subject

Content

This competence-line course teaches state-of the art knowledge within the field of coastal geoscience. The course focuses on coastal dynamics (processes) and coastal deposits on spatial and temporal scales ranging from seconds to millennia and from centimetres to multiple kilometres.

 

Learning Outcome

Knowledge:

Hydrodynamic processes, sediment transport and morphological response (morphodynamics) in coastal environments (beaches and nearshore systems, barrier systems, tidal inlet and delta systems, back-barrier systems, aeolian systems) and the resulting stratigraphy, landforms and landform assemblages. Topics include: Waves and currents; erosion and transport of sediments; beach and shoreface morphology; conceptual morphological models; stratigraphy and formation of coastal landscapes; beach erosion/accretion; coastal response to changes in sea-level, sediment supply and climate change.

 

Skills:

  • apply, evaluate and analyze methods, theory and data related to the course subjects.
  • gain an overview and understanding of research methodologies in the coastal environment
  • analyse and discuss data-sets from studies dealing with coastal processes and coastal deposits
  • give a short, concise and well-illustrated oral presentation of a research problem (on the basis of scientific papers).
  • write a short, concise assignment on a selected topic aimed at colleagues within research or public institutions

 

Competences:

The aim of the course is to gain a broad and coherent understanding of sediment transport, geomorphological processes, coastal deposits and landforms in coastal environments. The students will be able to understand/appreciate coastal development over both short and long time spans and how (and why) changing boundary conditions (climate change; sea level change) affect these landscapes in the long term. This includes an appreciation of risks related to climate change along with possible adaptation strategies and measures.

At the end of the course the student will be able to critically evaluate both research methodologies and research results from coastal environments, to extract information from scientific publications and to translate this into coherent, professional-style oral presentations and a short, concise written assignment.

Literature

Please see Absalon

A BSc in Geography and Geoinformatics or equivalent is recommended. It is also recommended to have followed the bachelor-level course entitled 'Kystprocesser and -morfologi'.
The form of teaching is theory exercises combined with ad hoc lectures. For the teaching plan, please see Absalon.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Preparation
  • 171
  • Theory exercises
  • 35
  • Total
  • 206
Oral
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Feedback by final exam (In addition to the grade)
Peer feedback (Students give each other feedback)

Oral feedback from teacher and peers in relation to seminar presentations. Oral feedback after the (oral) examination.

Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment, during course
Oral examination, 20 minutes
Type of assessment details
The written assignment is prepared during the course and must be handed in prior to the exam week. The oral exam uses the written assignment as its point of departure and is without preparation. It includes the titles listed in the officially approved reading list. A combined grade is given after the oral examination.
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Internal examiners.
Re-exam

Identical to ordinary exam.

The student has the following options:

Is the quality of the written assignment not acceptable, the student can choose to either hand in a new or revised report.

Is the quality of the written assignment acceptable, the student can choose to either hand in a revised report or resubmit the original report from the ordinary exam.

The written assignment must be handed in prior to the re-examination week. The oral exam uses the written assignment as its point of departure. It includes the titles listed in the officially approved reading list.

Criteria for exam assesment

See learning outcome