Students

EESC2160 – Climate and Oceans

2022 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Neil Saintilan
Contact via 0409378863
12 Wallys Walk Room 435
by arrangement
Lecturer
Thomas Doyle
Contact via (02) 99955298
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
(ENVE117 or ENVS117 or ENVS1017 or GEOS117 or GEOS112 or GEOS1110 or GEOS126 or EESC1160) or 10cp in PHYS units at 1000 level
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

The Earth’s climate and oceans are intimately linked and are fundamental to life on this planet. This unit explores the climate system and the role that oceans play in regulating climate. The unit examines climate and ocean interactions and processes on a range of spatial scales (local to global) and time scales (daily to decadal and millennial). The unit includes a field trip that introduces students to evidence of climate drivers and responses in marine and coastal habitats such as sea-level rise impacts and adaptation.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental links between the climate and oceans to interpret climate-ocean interactions and processes.
  • ULO2: Apply data collected from measuring and modelling climate-ocean interactions to understand mechanisms of climate and ocean variability.
  • ULO3: Demonstrate effective individual and team work skills in climate-ocean science to understand and solve real-world environmental problems in both the field and laboratory.
  • ULO4: Draw on and synthesise appropriate sources of information to communicate ideas about climate drivers and responses in marine and coastal habitats.

General Assessment Information

Assessment Criteria

Assessment at Macquarie University is standards-based, as outlined in the Assessment Policy. This means that your work will be assessed against clear criteria, and these criteria (e.g. in a rubric) will be made available when the assessment tasks are released to you on iLearn. 

Submission of Assessments

All assessments must be submitted online through Turnitin unless otherwise indicated. Links for the submission of each assessment will be available on iLearn. 

You should always check that you have uploaded the correct file. If you have a problem, please email the Unit Convenor with your correct file. You must also keep a copy of your assessments until the end of semester in case there is a problem with your submission. It is your responsibility to ensure that you can provide a copy of your assessment if requested.

Marking of Assessments

Assignments will usually be marked through Turnitin with grades provided through Gradebook on iLearn. Please do not submit your assessments via email or in hard copy unless requested (e.g. a sketch or drawing). 

We aim to return your assessment grades and feedback within two to three weeks of the date that you submitted it. We appreciate your patience and will advise you through iLearn when your marked assessments and feedback are available for viewing.

 

Late Assessment Submission Penalty 

From 1 July 2022, Students enrolled in Session based units with written assessments will have the following university standard late penalty applied. Please see https://students.mq.edu.au/study/assessment-exams/assessments for more information. 

 

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of '0' will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11:55 pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern. 

For any late submission of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to submit an application for Special Consideration 

Assessments where Late Submissions will be accepted 

In this unit, late submissions will accepted as follows: 

  • Assessment 1 Practical Report – YES, Standard Late Penalty applies 
  • Assessment 2 Field Report - YES, Standard Late Penalty applies 
  • Assessment 3 Quiz - NO, unless Special Consideration is Granted 

Extensions for Assessments

To obtain an extension for an assessment task, you will need to follow the formal process as outlined in the Special Consideration Policy, and you must provide appropriate supporting evidence (e.g. medical certificate - see advice for Special Consideration requests). The final decision regarding the granting of an extension lies with the unit convenor. Permission for extensions must be sought before the due date unless there are exceptional circumstances. Please let us know of problems in advance or as soon as possible, not after the event. We are likely to be much more sympathetic and able to accommodate your circumstance if you follow this advice.

 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Practical report 20% No 05/08/2022; 12/08/2022; 26/08/2022; 02/09/2022
Fieldtrip report and presentation 50% No 14/10/2022
Quizzes 30% No 10/09/2022; 26/10/2022

Practical report

Assessment Type 1: Lab report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: 05/08/2022; 12/08/2022; 26/08/2022; 02/09/2022
Weighting: 20%

 

Assessment 2 is a practical report worth 20% of the final grade. The report will include experimental data introduced during practicals that is presented with appropriate graphical representation and statistical analysis, and a conclusion drawing correct associations and inferences from the data. During this assessment task students will develop skills to apply to the fieldtrip report.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate effective individual and team work skills in climate-ocean science to understand and solve real-world environmental problems in both the field and laboratory.
  • Draw on and synthesise appropriate sources of information to communicate ideas about climate drivers and responses in marine and coastal habitats.

Fieldtrip report and presentation

Assessment Type 1: Field work task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 14/10/2022
Weighting: 50%

 

Assessment 3 is a fieldtrip report and presentation based on a 2-day local fieldtrip, worth 50% of the final grade. The content of the report will include an Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Acknowledgements and References. This will be translated to a non-scientific audience in group presentations.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental links between the climate and oceans to interpret climate-ocean interactions and processes.
  • Apply data collected from measuring and modelling climate-ocean interactions to understand mechanisms of climate and ocean variability.
  • Demonstrate effective individual and team work skills in climate-ocean science to understand and solve real-world environmental problems in both the field and laboratory.
  • Draw on and synthesise appropriate sources of information to communicate ideas about climate drivers and responses in marine and coastal habitats.

Quizzes

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 18 hours
Due: 10/09/2022; 26/10/2022
Weighting: 30%

 

Assessment 1 involves two multiple-choice quizzes, each worth 15% of the final grade. Content can be from the lectures, practicals, fieldwork or assigned readings.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental links between the climate and oceans to interpret climate-ocean interactions and processes.
  • Apply data collected from measuring and modelling climate-ocean interactions to understand mechanisms of climate and ocean variability.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Unit iLearn

This unit has an iLearn page that can be accessed through ilearn.mq.edu.au. It contains important information and other materials relating to the unit, including details and links for assessments.

Communication

The unit iLearn is the primary way that we communicate with you. Please check it regularly for announcements and posts. You are encouraged to use the Discussion Board on iLearn to post questions and generate discussion with other students. Please only email the convenor with private matters – all other questions should be posted on iLearn.

Unit Organisation 

This unit is delivered in two modules and weekly topics. one day field trip is also scheduled for this unit outside of normal class time. The organisation of these is outlined in a detailed unit schedule which is available on iLearn.

Classes

The class timetable for this unit can be found through the Timetable portal. You should also check the unit schedule as some weeks may have other instructions or locations.

Workload 

The expected workload for this 10-credit point unit is 150 hours of activity, comprising lecture attendance and review, practical class attendance and report completion, research towards the completion of the field trip report and presentation, attendance of the field day, and exam preparation. 

Requirements to complete this unit satisfactorily 

To complete this unit satisfactorily, you must:

1. Participate in all scheduled classes;

2. Complete all assessments including the final exam; and

3. Achieve a pass grade or higher.

The descriptions for grades common to all coursework units offered by Macquarie University are outlined in Schedule 1 of the Assessment Policy

 

Recommended Texts and/or Materials 

Readings will be provided each week on iLearn

 

Technology Used and Required

This unit will use iLearn and Echo360. See the Instructions on how to log in to iLearn and the iLearn quick guides for students which will help you:

  • Getting started - Find out how to navigate and familiarise yourself with the iLearn environment
  • Activities - Learn how to effectively complete the activities required of you in iLearn
  • Assignments and Gradebook - Find out how to submit assessments and view your grades using iLearn
  • Online study tips - Studying online is a unique experience, learn how to navigate it here
  • Discussion forums - Explore the different types, and features of discussion forums in iLearn
  • Lecture recordings - Find out how to access lectures online, as well as the features available to you

Unit Schedule

EESC 2160 Climate and Oceans Schedule 2022

Week

Date

Lecturer

Lecture Topic

Practical

Topic

Assessment

Module 1: Marine Climate Change

1

Wednesday 27th July

NS

Introduction- coupled ocean atmosphere system

in time

No practical

 

2

Wednesday 3rd August

NS

Palaeo Sea level and coastal morphodynamics

Practical 1 East Australian sea level trend

analysis

Assessable Prac due Friday 5th August

3

Wednesday  10th August

NS

Extreme maritime storms

Practical 2 Vertical accretion of intertidal

habitats

Assessable Prac due Friday 12th August

4

Wednesday 17th August

NS

Marine climate and weather-

ENSO and the IOD

Practical 3 Indigenous perspectives in coastal and marine

management

 

5

Wednesday 24th August

NS

Estuarine processes

Practical 4 Spatial analysis of

habitat change

Assessable Prac due Friday 26th August

Module 2: Coastal processes and management

6

Wednesday 31st August

NS

Blue Carbon

Practical 5 Indonesia case study

Assessable Prac due Friday 2nd September

7

Wednesday 7th September

TD

Shoreface and surf zone

processes

Practical 6 Tidal current

data analysis

1st quiz (15%) Fri 10th September

Study Break: 12-25 September

Excursion Sat

17th September

Central Coast

8

Wednesday 28th September

TD

Dunes and sand barriers

Practical 7 Storm surge and

sea level rise

 

9

Wednesday 5th October

TD

Storm surge, coastal flooding and sea-level rise

Practical 8

Managing the Coasts

 

10

Wednesday 12th October

TD

 Coastal Zone Management

Practical 9

Seminar

Field Report due

Fri 14th October (30%)

11

Wednesday 19th October

TD and NS

Field trip group presentations

In class

presentations (20%)

12

Wednesday 26th October

No class

 

Final Quiz

2nd quiz (15%) Wed 26th

October

13

No Class

 

 

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.


Unit information based on version 2022.03 of the Handbook