Earth and Environmental Sciences (SEES)

Geological Hazards

The fieldwork programme is a major element of the Geological Hazards degree and comprises some 75 to 80 days spread over the three years of the course.

The emphasis in the first two years is strongly towards providing the observational, recording, synthesising and problem-solving skills required of an Applied Geologist.

The final year project dissertation involves a period of independent field study. Many students use this as an opportunity to be adventurous and to travel abroad and projects have taken place in areas where the School has direct experience and contacts, such as the Western USA, Sicily, Taiwan, New Zealand, Brazil and many areas of France.

Residential Courses

Level 1

Central Spain: this compulsory trip 70 Km north of Madrid is focused on providing training in the essential skill of geological mapping as well as general geology

Level 2

North Norfolk: a three day trip considering the glacial geology and geomorphology of a former ice-sheet margin near Cromer. Activities include geomorphological mapping, glacial sediment logging and Quaternary environmental reconstruction.

Bath, Malverns and Cotswolds: a three day trip looking at aspects of periglacial environments around Bath as well as a trip underground to a Bathstone mine where aspects of underground stability and potential geohazards are considered. In the Malverns students undertake a number of exercises aimed at characterising rock mass in terms of its strength and engineering behaviour. On the third day geological mapping techniques are introduced on the Cotswold escarpment just outside the village of Broadway.

Southern Italy: A seven day field trip to Sicily to study the tectonics, seismic and volcanic hazards associated with the most active volcano in Europe - Mt Etna! This course is designed to prepare you for your final year project data collection in particular for those wishing to pursue a volcanic or seismic project. There will be a strong emphasis on Volcanology and the associated hazards.

French Alps: This is a techniques based field course run over eight days in the French Alps designed to ready you for the data collection part of the final year project. Structured fieldwork activities include landslide mapping, characterisation of soil and rock masses, forensic investigation of a dam failure and geological hazard identification, reconnaissance and mapping.

Level 3

Kent: a three day trip to study various aspects of the landslides and slope stability geohazards both inland and on the coast

Other Field Work

We lead short trips to places that include the Isle of Wight, Lulworth Cove, Lyme Regis, Horndean and other local sites.