ANTA101-15SU2 (D) Summer Nov 2015 start (Distance)

Antarctica

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 16 November 2015
End Date: Sunday, 20 December 2015
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Friday, 20 November 2015
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Friday, 4 December 2015

Description

This introductory course explores the Antarctic continent, the Southern Ocean and the sub-Antarctic islands. It aims to develop an understanding of the relevance of the polar regions to current issues such as climate change, environmental management, and living resource conservation and protection. The content of the course will be a combination of ANTA102 and ANTA103. The course will be delivered entirely online through LEARN, which will allow students flexibility as to when they view the lectures.

Summary of Course Content
• Geological evolution of the Antarctic
• Dynamics of Antarctic ice and climate change
• Antarctic weather and climate
• History of Antarctic exploration
• Antarctic law and policy challenges
• Antarctic marine biology (penguins, seals, whales, flying seabirds)
• Antarctic terrestrial biology

Learning Outcomes

  • The first part of this course looks at the geological evolution of the Antarctic continent, the dynamics of polar ice, the drivers of weather and climate in Antarctica, and historical and present day human interaction with the polar region including intriguing political, legal and psychological challenges.

    The second part of the course focuses on biology and explores how plants, microbes, animals and humans adapt to living in the extreme environments of the Antarctic and the Southern Ocean. Low temperatures and periods of total darkness are just some of the extremes to be endured.

    Intended learning outcomes
    By course completions students will be able to
  • Describe the physical characteristics and ecological peculiarities of Antarctica;
  • Discuss the biodiversity and functioning of terrestrial and marine ecosystems of Antarctica;
  • Question how Antarctic biodiversity and the physical environment is responding to change;
  • Assess human interactions with Antarctica;
  • Identify and analyse the political and legal framework for Antarctic governance;
  • Interpret academic literature on wider Antarctic issues;
  • Present critical arguments on potential future developments in Antarctica, or effecting Antarctica, including climate change.

Restrictions

INCO103, ANTA102 and ANTA103, ANTA112 and ANTA113

Assessment

1. Five quizzes to be completed at the end of each of the five weeks the course runs (50%)
2. A two-hour final online test on 20 December 2015 (50%)

Textbooks / Resources

No Textbook Required.

Course links

Library portal

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $808.00

International fee $3,638.00

* 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 Gateway Antarctica .

All ANTA101 Occurrences

  • ANTA101-15SU2 (D) Summer Nov 2015 start (Distance)
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