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An introductory course emphasising geological hazards in the natural environment such as volcanic activity, earthquakes and land instability. The course includes a one-day workshop and one day field visits relating to hazards affecting Christchurch and north Canterbury.
GEOL113 Environmental Geohazards provides a general introduction to the dynamic nature of the Earth’s surface, and the hazards that certain geological phenomena pose for human society and the natural environment. Emphasis is placed on natural processes, specifically earthquake, volcanic, flood (inundation) and landslide hazards, with selected examples of both disastrous events and hazard mitigation techniques. The topics covered are relevant to a wide range of disciplines concerned with the natural sciences and environmental management, including the geological sciences, civil engineering, science journalism, civil defence, outdoor recreation, land-use planning, conservation, and secondary school teaching.
Students successfully completing this course should have a basic understanding of:the theory of plate tectonics and the structure of the Earth’s crust and interior;the nature, causes and effects of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions;the nature, causes and effects of landslides and river/coastal flooding;the nature of hazards, potential impacts on people, and mitigation techniques; andthe planning framework within which hazard management operates in New Zealand.
There are no laboratories for this course, and practical classes are held as a one day workshop in the Department on Saturday 14 August. There is also a one day field trip over the weekend of 11/12 September 2010.
For further information see Geological Sciences Head of Department
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Geohazards Workshop All students taking the course are required to attend a half-day workshop, which is scheduled for Saturday 14th August; if enrolments are sufficiently high, the workshop may be repeated on Sunday 15th August, and advice will be given during the course. The workshop is designed to introduce students to techniques for identifying and managing geohazards, with emphasis on earthquake disaster mitigation. Both individual and group exercises will be undertaken, and some of them will be submitted on the day with the balance by Friday 20th August unless otherwise agreed. Students prevented from attending due to illness should apply for consideration through the aegrotat process, and may be required to submit an alternative exercise. Further information, including any background reading, will be provided in the week beginning 2nd August. Field Trip and Exercises All enrolled students are required to attend a 1-day field trip on either Saturday 11 or Sunday 12 September, and to submit the associated assessable exercises. The field trip will examine aspects of geological hazards in the Christchurch/North Canterbury area, with emphasis on land-use planning in relation to earthquakes, flooding, coastal hazards and/or landslips. Additional information will be provided closer to the dates of the field trip.
Relationship of GEOL 113 to other courses GEOL 113 Environmental Geohazards is designed as a general interest paper that may add breadth to any degree and is suitable for students with no previous experience in either geology or other science subjects. It may be acceptable as a prerequisite for 200-level Geology courses, along with one of GEOL111 or GEOL112, provided a student gains a B+ average, or a standard acceptable to the HOD.Goal of the CourseThe primary goal of the course is to inform students about natural hazards of a geological origin that impact at or on the Earth’s surface, and which affect people, property and/or infrastructure. Case studies are selected which emphasise the societal effects, as well as those on the landscape, and current or recent examples are chosen where appropriate.Summary of the Course ContentThe topics coved by this course are:• Geohazards and society, including case studies• Earthquakes and earthquake hazards• Volcanoes and Volcanic Hazards• Landslides, Floods and Coastal Hazards• Any other topical geohazard field
Domestic fee $650.00
International fee $3,000.00
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
For further information see Geological Sciences .