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GEOL2251: Modelling Earth Processes
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| Type | Open |
|---|---|
| Level | 2 |
| Credits | 20 |
| Availability | Not available in 2024/2025 |
| Module Cap | None. |
| Location | Durham |
| Department | Earth Sciences |
Prerequisites
- GEOL1081 Further Mathematics for Geoscientists OR a comparable module taught in the Mathematics Department, and GEOL1131 Geoinformatics OR a comparable introductory programming module taught in another department
Corequisites
- None
Excluded Combinations of Modules
- None.
Aims
- To understand the importance and application of numerical and inverse modelling in geoscience, as tools for investigating Earth processes and for predicting the behaviour of Earth systems.
Content
- Key concepts of numerical and inverse modelling.
- Physical and chemical processes relevant to geoscience, to include examples from: heat flow, chemical reactions, groundwater flow, wave propagation and tectonophysics.
Learning Outcomes
Subject-specific Knowledge:
- Will understand the components of numerical and inverse models:
- principles behind modelling of a physical/chemical system;
- the mathematical descriptions of physical and chemical processes, and;
- how these components are incorporated into the software of a numerical or inverse model.
- Will be able to critically evaluate models in terms of fit to data, uncertainties, resolution, uniqueness, and model or inversion instability.
Subject-specific Skills:
- Will be able to use high-level programming software effectively.
- Will be able to plot and interpret model results in an organised and concise fashion.
Key Skills:
- Communicate modelling approach, results and uncertainties effectively in written, verbal and graphical forms.
- Evaluate the relationship between model predictions and observations.
Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module
- Problem-based learning built around 20 x 3 hour weekly slots, most of them starting with a short introductory lecture. Each problem will build upon knowledge from a previous exercise, address a fundamental issue in modelling Earth processes and contain a mixture of guidance and feedback, practical IT-based activities and short lectures on specific technical details.
- The students will be tested on their modeling skills with a mixture of short reports and in-class programming tests
Teaching Methods and Learning Hours
| Activity | Number | Frequency | Duration | Total | Monitored |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practical | 20 | Weekly | 3 hours | 60 | Yes |
| Preparation and reading | 140 | ||||
| Total | 200 |
Summative Assessment
| Component: Continuous Assessment | Component Weighting: 100% | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Element | Length / Duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
| Practical Assignment 1 | 30 | ||
| Practical Assignment 2 | 40 | ||
| Practical Assignment 3 | 30 | ||
Formative Assessment
More information
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