Last modified: 29 Aug 2024 08:16
Hydrological extremes, i.e. floods and droughts, are the most widespread natural hazards with the largest impact on the environment and society. Increase in frequency and severity of hydrological extremes as a consequence of climate change make it one of the biggest threats to future water security. This course will provide the conceptual basis and practical illustrations of the changing and “wicked” nature of problems of floods, droughts and management responses in context of population growth and increasing demand.
| Study Type | Postgraduate | Level | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | Second Term | Credit Points | 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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The course will provide students with a broad understanding of the physical and human aspects that underpin the impacts of hydrological extremes on the environment and society, and further illustrate adaptation strategies from scientific, regulatory, operational and social perspectives.
The course will entail the definition and illustration of key concepts, drivers, processes, and investigation methods relating to hydrological extremes:
The course is delivered by Aberdeen lecturers and demonstrators, with a significant contribution from external expert guest lecturers from academia (University, BGS, JHI), policy (SEPA, water authorities) and practice (water utilities, consultancy). It will contain a mixture of lectures, practical, tutorials, seminars, field visit and student personal assignments that include both fundamental knowledge and practical applications.
| Description | Value |
|---|---|
| Day field trip | 500.0000 |
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 25 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Practical report 2 (2,500 words) The report will synthesis the results of a series 3x class practicals on (1) mapping vulnerability to floods & droughts in a selected area (e.g. East Scotland), (2) apply water balance approaches to floods and droughts analysis, (3) apply modelling tools to floods and droughts analysis, and will examine the results to assess possible options for water capture and storage in order to both mitigate/attenuate floods and increase water availability during following droughts. Standardized feedback will be provided through feedback sheets and will include:
|
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Factual | Understand | Understand the socio-economic, policy, and practice aspects involved in the monitoring and managing of hydrological extremes, and their differences in developed and developing countries |
| Procedural | Apply | Apply methods and tools for measuring and modelling hydrological extremes and assessing vulnerability |
| Reflection | Evaluate | Evaluate floods and droughts preparedness and response frameworks; evaluate early warning and management systems and tools; evaluate physical/engineering mitigation and adaptation techniques |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 25 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Based on literature review on one of the topics taught e.g. impacts of hydrological extremes in a selected geographical contexts. Standardized feedback will be provided through feedback sheets and will include
|
Word Count | 2500 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Understand key concepts and processes relating to hydrological extremes: flood, hydrological drought, hazard, exposure, vulnerability, risk, impacts, preparedness, response, resilience, adaptation |
| Factual | Understand | Understand the socio-economic, policy, and practice aspects involved in the monitoring and managing of hydrological extremes, and their differences in developed and developing countries |
| Procedural | Analyse | Analyse the drivers of hydrological extremes and their long-term trends under global change, and their role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in a specific geographical context |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 25 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
10 min+5 min questions presentation on one of the topics taught. Each student will choose a pre-defined topic among a list provided, which will be distributed so that each presentation is on a different topic. Standardized feedback will be provided through feedback sheets and will include:
|
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Factual | Understand | Understand the socio-economic, policy, and practice aspects involved in the monitoring and managing of hydrological extremes, and their differences in developed and developing countries |
| Reflection | Evaluate | Evaluate floods and droughts preparedness and response frameworks; evaluate early warning and management systems and tools; evaluate physical/engineering mitigation and adaptation techniques |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 25 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Practical report 1 (2,500 words) The report will synthesis the results of a series 3x class practicals on (1) floods and droughts return time analysis, (2) peak over threshold POT flood analysis, (3) standard precipitation/evaporation index SPI/SPEI analysis and will discuss the results in terms of hydrological extremes hazard and exposure. Standardized feedback will be provided through feedback sheets and will include:
|
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Procedural | Analyse | Analyse the drivers of hydrological extremes and their long-term trends under global change, and their role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in a specific geographical context |
| Procedural | Apply | Apply methods and tools for measuring and modelling hydrological extremes and assessing vulnerability |
| Reflection | Evaluate | Evaluate floods and droughts preparedness and response frameworks; evaluate early warning and management systems and tools; evaluate physical/engineering mitigation and adaptation techniques |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Procedural | Analyse | Analyse the drivers of hydrological extremes and their long-term trends under global change, and their role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in a specific geographical context |
| Procedural | Apply | Apply methods and tools for measuring and modelling hydrological extremes and assessing vulnerability |
| Reflection | Evaluate | Evaluate floods and droughts preparedness and response frameworks; evaluate early warning and management systems and tools; evaluate physical/engineering mitigation and adaptation techniques |
| Factual | Understand | Understand the socio-economic, policy, and practice aspects involved in the monitoring and managing of hydrological extremes, and their differences in developed and developing countries |
| Conceptual | Understand | Understand key concepts and processes relating to hydrological extremes: flood, hydrological drought, hazard, exposure, vulnerability, risk, impacts, preparedness, response, resilience, adaptation |
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