second year geosciences units of study 2011 - School of Geosciences

SECOND YEAR GEOSCIENCES UNITS OF STUDY
2011
SEMESTER 1
GEOS2112
Economic Geography of Global Development
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: A/Prof Bill Pritchard, Prof Philip Hirsch Session:
Semester 1 Classes: Two 1 hour lectures and one 2 hour practical per week. Prerequisites:
24 credit points of Junior units of study, including 6 credit points of Junior Geoscience or
ECOP1001 or ECOP1002 Prohibitions: GEOS2912, GEOG2511 Assessment: One 2 hour
exam, 2000 word essay, tutorial papers, practical report (100%) Campus:
Camperdown/Darlington Delivery Mode: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
In this unit of study, students will be introduced to the sub-discipline of economic geography by way of
debates on the spatial character of global development. We focus on questions relating to who are the
winners and losers from contemporary patterns of global economic change. This includes the analysis of
relevant conceptual approaches to these questions (including comparative advantage, global commodity
chain theory, regionalism, economic governance etc), plus 'hands-on' examination of the key institutions
(such as the WTO and ADB) driving these changes. In general, issues are tailored to themes being
played out in Asia-Pacific countries. Students are expected to participate in a variety of practical class
exercises throughout the semester, which will include presenting the fruits of independent research
activities. This unit provides an especially relevant feeder-unit into GEOS3053/ GEOS3054, the Asia-
Pacific Field School.
GEOS2912
Economic Geography of Global Dev. Adv.
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: A/Prof Bill Pritchard, Dr Jeff Neilson Session:
Semester 1 Classes: Two 1 hour lectures and one 2 hour practical per week. Prerequisites:
24 credit points of Junior units of study, including a distinction in 6 credit points of Junior
Geoscience or in ECOP1001 or ECOP1002 Prohibitions: GEOS2112, GEOG2511
Assessment: One 2 hour exam, 2000 word essay, tutorial papers, practical reports (100%)
Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Delivery Mode: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
This is an Advanced version of GEOS2112. In this unit of study, students will be introduced to the subdiscipline
of economic geography by way of debates on the spatial character of global development. We
focus on questions relating to who are the winners and losers from contemporary patterns of global
economic change. This includes the analysis of relevant conceptual approaches to these questions
(including comparative advantage, global commodity chain theory, regionalism, economic governance
etc), plus 'hands-on' examination of the key institutions (such as the WTO and ADB) driving these
changes. In general, issues are tailored to themes being played out in Asia-Pacific countries. Students

are expected to participate in a variety of practical class exercises throughout the semester, which will
include presenting the fruits of independent research activities. This unit provides an especially relevant
feeder-unit into GEOS3053/ GEOS3054, the Asia-Pacific Field School.
GEOS2114
Volcanoes, Hot Rocks and Minerals
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Derek Wyman, Dr Patrice Rey Session:
Semester 1 Classes: Two 1 hour lectures and one 3 hour practical per week. Prerequisites:
One of (GEOG1001, GEOL1001, GEOL1002, GEOS1003, GEOS1903, ENVI1002,
GEOL1902, GEOL1501) and 24 credit points of Junior Science units of study. Prohibitions:
GEOL2111, GEOL2911, GEOS2914 Assessment: One 2 hour exam, practical reports, field
trip report (100%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Delivery Mode: Normal
(lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
This unit of study relates plate tectonics to a) volcanoes and magma systems that create them; b) the
formation of precious metal and gemstone ores around the Pacific Rim; and c) an understanding of how
Earth's materials (minerals, rocks, rock formations, lithospheric plates etc.) respond to stresses and the
forces that deform them. Methods of analysis involve studies at the microscopic scale (performed on
thin sections) and the mesoscopic scale performed on hand specimens and outcrops. The unit includes
a two to three day field trip to study an extinct volcano in NSW. Practical work includes independent
study of igneous systems, rocks and minerals employing both microscope-based techniques and
computer modeling. The unit provides relevant knowledge for GEOS3006/3906 - Mineral Deposits and
Spatial Data Analysis.
GEOS2914
Volcanoes, Hot Rocks and Minerals Adv
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Derek Wyman, Dr Patrice Rey Session:
Semester 1 Classes: Two 1 hour lectures and one 3 hour practical per week. Prerequisites:
24 credit points of Junior Science units of study and Distinction in one of GEOL1002 or
GEOS1002 or ENVI1002 or GEOL1501 or GEOL1902 or GEOS1902 or GEOS1003 or
GEOS1903.This requirement may be varied and students should consult the unit of study
coordinator. Prohibitions: GEOL2001, GEOS2114 Assessment: One 2 hour exam, practical
reports, field trip report Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Delivery Mode: Normal
(lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
This unit has the same objectives as GEOS2114 and is suitable for students who wish to pursue
aspects of the subject in greater depth. Entry is restricted and selection is made from the applicants on
the basis of their performance to date. Students that elect to take this unit will participate in alternatives
to some aspects of the standard unit and will be required to pursue independent work to meet unit
objectives. This unit may be taken as part of the BSc (Advanced).
Textbooks
No required textbook. Course notes available.
GEOS2115

Oceans, Coasts and Climate Change
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Joanne Whittaker; A/Prof Patrice Rey, Dr Maria
Seton; Dr Jody Webster Session: Semester 1 Classes: 26 one-hour lectures, 6 one hour
workshops, 1 four hour field work, 6 two hour practical classes. Prerequisites: 48 credit
points from Junior Units of Study Prohibitions: GEOS2915, MARS2006 Assumed
knowledge: At least one of (GEOG1001, GEOL1001, GEOL1002, GEOS1003, GEOS1903,
ENVI1002, GEOL1902, GEOL1501) Assessment: Web-based on-line reports (30%). One
lab report (20%). One 2-hour exam (50%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Delivery Mode:
Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
This unit of study introduces core concepts about how the formation of ocean basins and their influence
on climate govern the development of coasts and continental margins, and related environmental
processes responsible for physical hazards. These concepts provide a framework for understanding the
geographic variation of coasts, continental shelves and sediment accumulations in the deep ocean.
Ocean-basin evolution is explained in terms of movements within the Earth's interior and how these
movements determine the geometry of ocean basins, and their alpine counterparts, which interact with
the global circulation of the ocean and atmosphere. Affects of this interaction on energy regimes and
hydrology are described in accounting for regional controls that govern supply and dispersal of
sediments on continental margins and in ocean basins. These controls also govern environmental
conditions determining development of coral reefs and other ecosystems that play a key role in marine
sedimentation. The Unit of Study systematically outlines how these factors have played out with climate
change to produce by gradual change the coasts we see today, as well as the less familiar deposits
hidden beneath the sea and coastal lands. These gradual changes are compared to the sudden effects
of more catastrophic geophysical events. The Unit thereby outlines how knowledge of responses to
climate change in the past allow us to predict environmental responses to accelerated climate change
occurring now and in the future due to the industrial greenhouse effect, but places these responses into
perspective against natural hazards that already occur. Overall therefore, the Unit aims to provide
familiarity with fundamental phenomena central to the study of marine geoscience and environmental
impacts, introduced through process-oriented explanations. The Unit of Study is structure around
problem-based project work, for which lectures provide the theoretical background.
Textbooks
On line reading material provided via Fisher Library
GEOS2915
Oceans, Coasts and Climate Change (Adv)
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Ana Vila Conjeco. Session: Semester 1
Classes: 26 x 1 hour lectures, 7 two hour practical classes, 4 x 1 hour workshops, 1 x 4 hour
field work Prerequisites: Distinction average in 48 credit points from Junior units of study
Prohibitions: GEOS2115, MARS2006 Assumed knowledge: (GEOG1001, GEOL1001,
GEOL1002, GEOS1003, GEOS1903, ENVI1002, GEOL1902, GEOL1501) Assessment:
Field School Report (20%), Field and Lab report (45%), 2 web based online reports (15%),
one 1 hour exam: subset of GEOS2115 (20%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Delivery
Mode: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day

This unit has the same objectives as GEOS2115 and is suitable for students who wish to
pursue aspects of the subject in greater depth. Entry is restricted and selection is made from
the applicants on the basis of their performance to date. Students who elect to take this unit
will participate in alternatives to some aspects of the standard unit and will be required to
pursue independent work to meet unit objectives.
Textbooks
Online reading materials are provided via Fisher Library.
SEMESTER 2
GEOG2321
Fluvial and Groundwater Geomorphology
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Willem Vervoot and others Session: Semester 2
Classes: Two 1 hour lectures and one 2 hour practical per week. Prerequisites: 24 credit
points of Junior units of study including 6 credit points of Junior Geoscience. Students in the
BEnvSys should have ENSY1001, 12 credit points of Chemisty, 6 credit points of Biology,
BIOM1003 or ENVX2001 Prohibitions: GEOG2002, GEOG2302, GEOG2303, MARS2002,
MARS2006 Assessment: One 2 hr exam, two quizzes, one field report, practical exercises
(100%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Delivery Mode: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
This unit of study provides an introduction to the fundamentals of fluvial geomorphology (the study of
surface water as an agent of landscape change) and groundwater hydrology. The fluvial geomorphology
section of the unit will describe the movement of water in stream channels and investigate the
landscape change associated with that movement. Topics to be covered will include open channel flow
hydraulics, sediment transport processes and stream channel morphology. Practical work will focus on
the collection and analysis of field data. The quantity and quality of the groundwater resources are
closely linked to geology and fluvial geomorphology. The groundwater section of this unit is based
around four common groundwater issues: contamination, extraction, dryland salinity and groundwatersurface
water interaction. In the practical component, common groundwater computer models such as
FLOWTUBE and MODFLOW will be used to further explore these problems.
Textbooks
Recommended Textbooks: Fetter, CW. Applied Hydrogeology. Prentice-Hall. 2001. Knighton,
D. Fluvial Forms and Processes. Hodder-Arnold. 1998.
GEOS2121
Environmental and Resource Management
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Dan Penny Session: Semester 2 Classes: Two
1 hour lectures per week, 6 one hour tutorials and 6 two hour practical, one fieldtrip.
Prerequisites: 24 credit points of junior units of study, including 6 credit points of Junior

Geoscience or ECOP1001 or ECOP1002 Prohibitions: GEOG2421, GEOL2202, GEOS2921
Assessment: One 2 hour exam, two tutorial/practical class papers, one fieldtrip report, one
lab report (100%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Delivery Mode: Normal
(lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
This unit of study explores cultural constructions of nature and resources, the evolution of environmental
thought and the debates about sustainable development and climate change. It integrates
environmental, economic, cultural and social considerations in respect to natural resource management
in Australia and across Southeast Asia. The environmental considerations extend to an understanding
of climatic responses over the long term that provide constraints on resource management today, and
how these responses are projected to vary in future. These environmental constraints include air, land,
vegetation and water resources and are examined in relation to current issues driving contemporary
debate on the politics of climate change that must now be considered in environmental management
and competition for resources. The principles are brought to life through a fieldtrip to the Hunter Valley
to look at geographical issues pertaining to mines, wines and the thoroughbred breeding industries in
this region. The unit of study enables students to learn about the social, cultural and environmental
considerations that must be taken into account when developing and implementing environmental and
resource management policies in climate-change society.
GEOS2921
Environmental & Resource Management Adv
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Yayoi Lagerqvist Session: Semester 2 Classes:
Two 1 hour lectures, one 1 hour tutorial per week and one fieldtrip. Prerequisites: 24 credit
points of Junior units of study, including a distinction in 6 credit points of Junior Geoscience or
in ECOP1001 or ECOP1002. This requirement may be varied and students should consult
the unit of study coordinator. Prohibitions: GEOG2421, GEOL2202, GEOS2121
Assessment: One 2 hour exam, one media report, one tutorial / practical class paper, one
fieldtrip report (100%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Delivery Mode: Normal
(lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
Advanced students will complete the same core lecture materials as for GEOS2121 but are
required to complete alternative tutorial or practical work and an essay in place of the regular
tutorial reports prepared in GEOS2121.
GEOS2122
Urban Geography
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Kurt Iveson Session: Semester 2 Classes: 1 two
hour lecture and one 1 hour tutorial per week. Prerequisites: 24 credit points of Junior units
of study, including 6 credit points of Junior Geoscience or ECOP1001 or ECOP1002.
Prohibitions: GEOS2922, GEOG2521 Assessment: One 90 minute exam, one in class test,
one 2000 word essay, tutorial papers (100%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Delivery
Mode: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day

By their very nature, cities are intense assemblages of different people doing all sorts of
different things. For this reason, urban geographies are highly dynamic. Urban inhabitants
engaged in different activities use urban space in different ways, and in the process they
continually remake their cities. Inevitably, different uses and users of urban spaces
sometimes come into conflict with each other and with the urban authorities who try to shape
and regulate cities. This Unit of Study aims to understand some of these dynamic urban
geographies, primarily (but not exclusively) in western cities. We will do this by thinking
critically about urban places and practices that we often take for granted. As we will see, we
can learn a lot about processes of urban change by considering apparently ‘everyday’ things
like going to the shopping mall, eating out, driving, skateboarding, using mobile phones and
computers, policing, participating in a protest or a religious ceremony … even hopping in a lift!
GEOS2922
Urban Geography (Advanced)
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Prof John Connell, Dr Kurt Iveson Session:
Semester 2 Classes: one 2 hour lecture and one 1 hour tutorial per week. Prerequisites: 24
credit points of Junior units of study, including a distinction in 6 credit points of Junior
Geoscience or in ECOP1001 or ECOP1002 Prohibitions: GEOS2122 Assessment: One 90
minute exam, one in-class test, one 2000 word essay, tutorial papers (100%) Campus:
Camperdown/Darlington Delivery Mode: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
The advanced option for this Unit of Study will involve a more substantial field-based
assessment, which will be developed in consultation with the students.
GEOS2124
Fossils and Tectonics
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Adriana Dutkiewicz (coordinator), A/Prof Patrice
Rey Session: Semester 2 Classes: Two 1 hour lectures plus one 2 hour practical each
week. Prerequisites: 24 credit points of Junior units of study, including GEOS1003 or
GEOS1903 or GEOL1002 or GEOL1902 or GEOL1501 Prohibitions: GEOS2924,
GEOL2123, GEOL2124 Assessment: One 2 hour exam, practical reports, field report (100%)
Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Delivery Mode: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
The unit aims to convey how fossils, stratigraphic and structural data are used together to determine
ages and environments and the deformation history of rock layers. It covers an introduction to historical
geology and the evolution of the major fossils groups. Methods of stratigraphic age determination
include litho-, bio-, chemo-, magneto- stratigraphy, as well as radiometric geochronology and the
stratigraphic characteristics of the main geological time intervals. Structural methods are focused on
brittle deformation in the upper crust and sediments. Students will gain familiarity with the most
important fossil groups and how to identify them, and with the most important types of faults and folds.
The formation of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas will also be covered in an earth history and

esource exploration context. The simultaneous use of fossils, stratigraphy and structure to unravel the
geological history of a set of exposed rock layers is demonstrated during a field excursion to Yass.
Textbooks
Class notes will be available for purchase from The University Copy Centre
GEOS2924
Fossils and Tectonics (Advanced)
Credit points: 6 Teacher/Coordinator: Dr Adriana Dutkiewicz (co-ordinator), A/Prof Patrice
Rey Session: Semester 2 Classes: Two 1 hour lectures plus one 2 hour practical each
week. Prerequisites: Distinction in GEOS1003 or Distinction average in 12 credit points of
Junior Geoscience units (Geoscience is the disciplines of Geography, Geologyand
Geophysics) Prohibitions: GEOS2124, GEOL2123, GEOL2124 Assessment: One 2 hour
exam, practical reports, field report (100%) Campus: Camperdown/Darlington Delivery
Mode: Normal (lecture/lab/tutorial) Day
This unit has the same objectives as GEOS2124 and is suitable for students who wish to pursue
aspects of the subject in greater depth. Entry is restricted and selection is made from the applicants on
the basis of their performance to date. Students that elect to take this unit will participate in alternatives
to some aspects of the standard unit and will be required to pursue independent work to meet unit
objectives. This unit may be taken as part of the BSc (Advanced).
Textbooks
Class notes will be available for purchase from The University Copy Centre