7SSGN031 – Modelling Environmental Change
MODULE SYLLABUS [SEM2, 2023‒24]
Assignment Details
In this module, you will design and perform. a modelling study with a climate or environmental model of your choice. The two coursework assignments are: a plan for your proposed modelling study (CW1: formative), and a report of your modelling study (CW2: summative).
Coursework Assignment #1:
This assignment comprises 0% of the TOTAL MARK for this module. The WORD LIMIT is 500 words.
The submission deadline is as indicated on your KEATS module page under the section Assessment and Feedback.
Feedback will be returned during the last session of term
The following specific requirements apply (over and above the official Coursework Submission Requirements):
Produce a plan for your modelling study. This assessment provides the opportunity to propose a scientific question, and to plan a study to answer this question using a particular climate or environmental model. It is a means of obtaining constructive feedback to check and refine your plans before you continue with your modelling study. The plan should include:
• The climate/environmental system you will study - you may include a diagram;
• The scientific question you intend to answer;
• The model you plan to use - you may include a diagram;
• A brief outline of your plans, including:
o The scenario(s) of your scientific question: i.e. environmental conditions or policy interventions;
o A proposed experimental design: i.e. which uncertain model parameters you will vary (or consider varying), and how;
o A proposed method of calibration: i.e. the observational dataset(s) you have identified that you might use to calibrate your model, and any other details about how you could do this;
• If possible, some initial test results from running your model - a plot or some numbers.
Pleaseadd your name to the first page of this assessment, so we can identify you forgiving feedback in the later sessions.
Coursework Assignment #2:
This assignment comprises 100% of the TOTAL MARK for this module. The WORD LIMIT is 2500 words.
The submission deadline is as indicated on your KEATS module page under the section Assessment and Feedback.
This assignment will be marked using the Coursework criteria detailed in theGeography Student Handbook.
The following specific requirements apply (over and above the official Coursework Submission Requirements):
Write a report of your environmental modelling study. This report provides the opportunity to develop practical skills in climate or environmental modelling to answer a scientific question, and to communicate the outcomes visually and in text.
The report must include model output (figures such as graphs or images; tables) to highlight the points made, and should include (with appropriate in-text citations throughout, referring to and building on peer-review literature):
• A definition of the climate/environmental system understudy, with a description of its relevance and importance.
• A statement of the scientific question(s) and/or environmental intervention(s) you will study.
• A critical background of the state-of-the-art in modelling this system using key literature and studies. You may find a table format useful when comparing model attributes, strengths and weaknesses.
• A description of the model and your experimental design to (a) make predictions under different policy interventions or environmental conditions, and (b) assess the sensitivity of these predictions to uncertain inputs such as parameters.
• A description of the observational dataset and method you will use to calibrate your model.
• The results of your sensitivity analysis and calibration.
• Interpretation of the results, in terms of your scientific question and/or intervention, and a comparison with other studies.
• A discussion of the limitations of the model and study, and potential future directions.
Detailed tables/figures of results maybe included in an appendix (refer to it in the text), if it improves the flow and readability of the report.
You may also include in an appendix any code or description/diagram of your workflow. This is particularly helpful if you are adapting the practical sessions or other existing work, to illustrate which parts were yours.
Information on referencing, formatting, online submission, marking criteria & mitigating circumstances is available in theGeography Student Handbook :
• Referencing online at: Postgraduate Taught Programmes → PGT Coursework Submission and Formatting Requirements → Referencing.
• Official PGT instructions on formatting, online submission procedures, word limits and late submission online at: Postgraduate Taught Programmes → PGT Coursework Submission and Formatting Requirements.
• The Geography PGT Taught Marking Criteria for different assignment types are available online at: Postgraduate Taught Programmes → PGT Geography Specific Assessment Marking Criteria.
• Mitigating Circumstances. Details on the Mitigating Circumstances process and how to apply can be found in: Support and Wellbeing.