Module manager: Cat Scott
Email: c.e.scott@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
Physical science background at undergraduate level (i.e., degree in environmental science, physical geography, chemistry, physics, mathematics)
| SOEE3760 | Terrestrial Biosphere in the Earth System |
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This module explores the complex interactions between the terrestrial biosphere and the wider Earth system. As society searches for strategies to mitigate and adapt to climate change, this module will equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to understand the role of the terrestrial biosphere and the importance of changes to it. By the end of this module, students will understand the important physical, biological and chemical processes through which terrestrial ecosystems affect and are affected by climate. This learning will include knowledge of biosphere-atmosphere couplings of carbon, water and energy and the interactions between ecosystems and climate.
Objectives of the module are to:
- Facilitate understanding of the physical, chemical and biological interactions between the terrestrial biosphere and atmosphere (achieved through lectures, seminars, workshops, and fieldtrip)
- Support students to plan the collection and analysis of environmental data (achieved through seminars, workshops and field trip)
- Facilitate understanding of the drivers and impacts of land-use change (achieved through lectures, seminars and workshops)
- Provide students with the opportunity to communicate scientific findings to a non-specialist audience (achieved through workshops and assessment)
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1) Describe interactions between the terrestrial biosphere and wider Earth system by analysing environmental data and reporting quantitative findings
2) Demonstrate advanced understanding of the role of the terrestrial biosphere in climate change mitigation and adaptation by critically evaluating own findings in the context of wider scientific literature
3) Characterise the drivers and impacts of land-use change by evaluating environmental data and reporting findings in the context of the wider policy landscape
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
1) Critical thinking – ability to place own findings in the context of wider scientific literature
2) Information Technology (IT) skills – familiarity with Python programming language
3) Research skills – ability to collect and analyse quantitative environmental data
4) Effective communication – ability to communicate scientific information to scientific and non-specialist audiences
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fieldwork | 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Lecture | 12 | 1 | 12 |
| Practical | 4 | 2 | 8 |
| Seminar | 4 | 2 | 8 |
| Independent online learning hours | 2 | ||
| Private study hours | 113 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 35 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 150 | ||
Fortnightly quizzes will be provided via Minerva with feedback provided immediately; quizzes can be retaken allowing students to learn from feedback and refine answers.
Students will have the opportunity to consult with staff and postgraduate demonstrators during all workshops to receive feedback on their work.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Coursework | 30 |
| Coursework | Coursework | 70 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 29/04/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team