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Unit of study_
GEOS2111: Hazards, Climate Change and Disasters
The unit provides an essential framework for understanding the classification of natural hazards within Earth systems and explores key examples of geological, atmospheric, hydrological and biological hazards and explores the social relations and processes that turn hazard events into disasters. Given the vast majority of disasters are climate and weather-related, basics of weather, climate and climate change will be explored. Students will be introduced to key concepts in the study of hazards and disasters including underlying theories and models as well as critically interrogating concepts of vulnerability and resilience. Basic elements of the process of disaster risk reduction will be introduced. Case studies and examples from Australia and around the world will be drawn upon to unpack the nuances of hazard and disasters.
| Code | GEOS2111 |
|---|---|
| Academic unit | Geosciences Academic Operations |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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6 credit points of 1000-level units from (GEOS1XXX or GEOL1XXX) |
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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GEOS2911 |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. Describe and classify the Earth’s four major planetary systems and be able to associate the relevant natural hazard types
- LO2. Critically describe and interrogate the core concepts underpinning the study of natural hazards and disasters (drawing from disciplines such as geography, earth sciences, governance and political sciences, health systems, engineering and social and cultural studies) and demonstrate their intersection with climate change and disaster risk reduction and management
- LO3. Identify and explain how concepts of vulnerability, resilience, risk and adaptive capacity interact to determine disaster losses (or not) in a particular situation or context
- LO4. Review and comment upon the causes, processes, impacts and effects of selected natural hazard types
- LO5. Review and describe the basics of climate change and relate human-induced climate change to the occurrence of commonly occurring hydro-meteorological hazards
- LO6. Describe and discuss the various approaches to disaster risk reduction and management
- LO7. Provide a range of examples and case studies to illustrate your knowledge of natural hazards, climate change and disasters from high, medium and low-income countries
- LO8. Critically understand the range of technologies available to support spatial analysis as a mechanism for assessing hazard, risk and vulnerability and managing disasters
- LO9. Organise and communicate a coherent account of personal research about various aspects of natural hazards, climate change and disaster management using various written formats (e.g., report, newspaper article, poster etc)
Unit outlines
Unit outlines will be available 2 weeks before the first day of teaching for the relevant session.
- Semester 2, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
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