| Credit |
6 points |
| Availability |
Semester 2 (see Timetable) |
| Old unit code |
060.221 |
| Outcomes |
Students are able to (1) search and critically review relevant literature; (2) collect, analyse and interpret coastal datasets, including information describing weather, coastal processes and coastal environmental change; (3) provide basic descriptions of the characteristics of coastal sediments and their dominant transport pathways; (4) describe relationships between morphologic units in the field and interpret them in terms of their potentially formative processes; (5) develop a broad appreciation of the relevance of coastal geomorphology, sedimentology, and biogeography to coastal planning and management; (6) interpret coastal spatial data information on maps and aerial photographs; and (7) develop a capacity to use Excel software for analysis and presentation of results. |
| Content |
The Australian coastline is a dynamic environment, dominated by oceanographic processes, the motion of sediments, and presence of marine ecosystems. A detailed understanding of coastal processes is ultimately required to successfully manage and plan for the ever increasing demands that humans place on the coastline. This unit examines the fundamental processes that shape the coastal environment. Topics include coastal weather systems; nearshore hydrodynamic processes (e.g., tides, waves, nearshore circulation); sediment types, mechanisms of sediment transport, and sediment budgets; morphological features and changes to beaches; introduction to coastal geochemical cycles and water quality; and the role that environmental factors play in controlling the distribution of marine habitats and biogeographic zonation. |
| Assessment |
This comprises field and laboratory reports (40 per cent), a group project (25 per cent) and a final examination (35 per cent).
Supplementary assessment is not available in this unit except in the case of a bachelor's pass degree student who has obtained a mark of 45 to 49 and is currently enrolled in this unit, and it is the only remaining unit that the student must pass in order to complete their course. |
| Unit Co-ordinator(s) |
Assistant Professor Ryan Lowe |
| Location |
UWA (Crawley) |
| Mode |
on-campus |
| Unit Rules |
| Prerequisites: completion of 24 points in current enrolment |
| Advisable prior study: EART1105 Earth and Environment: Dynamic Planet and (EART1104 Earth and Environment: Geological Perspectives or EART1108 Earth and Environment: Geographical Perspectives) |
Contact hours—lectures: 2 hrs per week; labs: 2 hrs per week from second week of semester; field work: up to 4 days (charges: cost of food and accommodation is borne by the student)
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- The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of going to press but may be subject to change.
- Assistance with study skills, including English language skills, is available free of charge from Student Services for all enrolled students (see http://www.studentservices.uwa.edu.au/ss/learning). Student Services location: Second Floor, South Wing, Guild Village; telephone: 6488 2423.
- Books and other materials wherever listed may be subject to change. Book lists relating to 'Preliminary Reading', 'Recommended Reading' and 'Textbooks' are, in most cases, available at the University Co-operative Bookshop (from early January) and appropriate administrative offices for students to consult. For first-year units the Bookshop will endeavour to make available photocopies of book lists for individual units. Books marked with an asterisk (*) are available in paperback.
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