- UCAS course code
- L700
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
BA Geography
Join one of the top ten Geography departments in the UK (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024).
- Typical A-level offer: AAB
- Typical contextual A-level offer: BBB
- Refugee/care-experienced offer: BBC
- Typical International Baccalaureate offer: 35 points overall with 6,6,5 at HL
Course unit details:
Pyrogeography: Fire in the Earth System
Unit code | GEOG32012 |
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Credit rating | 20 |
Unit level | Level 3 |
Teaching period(s) | Semester 2 |
Available as a free choice unit? | Yes |
Overview
Wildfires are a major agent of change on the planet and have been for millions of years. Wildfires are a natural component of many landscapes maintaining the health and vitality of ecosystems. However, large, dangerous wildfires, sometimes known as mega-fires, are becoming more frequent (e.g. e.g. Black Saturday Bush Fires, Australia 2009, burned 4500 km2; Fort McMurray, Canada, 2016, 5896 km2; Portuguese wildfires 2017, 5200 km2) and many can be found close to human habitation in the wildland-urban interface. This then poses a challenge for those working with wildfire – how do we balance the competing tensions between humans, ecosystems and natural processes.
In this module, we will explore the idea of pyrogeography as the comprehensive study of the physical and cultural parameters of fire. We will see how fire plays its role in maintaining ecosystems, how biotic and abiotic factors determine the nature and behaviour of fire, and how these aspects of fire ecology interact with human decisions in order to understand current fire management strategies.
Aims
- introduce the ideas of pyrogeography (past, present and future distribution of wildfire) and fire ecology (fire effects on ecosystems, how ecosystems themselves influenced fire activity, and the role of fire as an ecosystem process).
- investigate the different types of fire and their differing ecosystem effects.
- consider the challenges associated with managing wildfires.
- reflect on the debates around the use of prescribed fire as a management tool, both globally and in the UK.
Syllabus
The course comprises 10 weeks of 2-hour lecture sessions and associated seminars/practicals, with two study weeks, and broken into three sections:
i) Introduction: Fire behaviour
Section 1: Fire in the Earth System
ii) Geological history of fire
iii) Fire and climate
Section 2: Fire and the Biosphere
iv) Spatial and temporal patterns of fire
v) Plants, fauna and fire
vi) Fire as an ecosystem process
Section 3: Anthropogenic fire
vii) Fire behaviour and danger ratings
viii) Fire and land management
ix) Fire, the media and communication
x) Summary lecture
Teaching and learning methods
The course is delivered through a series of 2-hour lectures and 1-hour seminars/practical sessions. Students will be expected to complete assigned readings between lectures and undertake the support activities indicated for each class. A high level of attendance is expected and will help ensure that you possess basic knowledge on which to build for the course assessment. If you are not able to attend classes, please let the course leader know beforehand as it does make a difference to how we run some activities.
Across the module, a range of methods will be used including lecture-style sessions with student discussion and activities, seminars, practical sessions and discussion exercises. The sessions will be supported by online material, directed reading, and practical assignments, which will all be available via the Blackboard site. You will need to be prepared to engage with all material provided, as well as demonstrate wider reading around the course. Online teaching tools such as Blackboard Collaborate may also form part of the teaching and learning delivery.
Knowledge and understanding
- Evaluate different environmental impacts of fire and explore trade-offs across different temporal and spatial scales.
- Describe ecosystem management debates with regards to fire management.
- Explain the latest advances in wildfire management.
Intellectual skills
- Critically evaluate contrasting and complementary scientific theories.
- Develop arguments based on the latest academic and non-academic literature.
Practical skills
- Demonstrate their skills in data collation, evaluation and synthesis.
- Source the latest information on wildfire science at global, regional and local levels.
Transferable skills and personal qualities
- Communicate technical information to a range of audiences.
Assessment methods
Formative Assessment Task Length (word count/time) How and when feedback is provided
One page ‘letter to editor 1-page max
Submitted mid-semester In 15 working days
Assessment task Length How and when feedback is provided Weighting
Coursework review paper 2000 words In 15 working days and before the exam period. 50%
End of module exam 2 hours Via academic advisor or SEED administration. 50%
Recommended reading
There is no core text for this course, but the following are useful general texts for the module.
Fire science textbooks (all available as e-books via the Library website)
Belcher, C.M. (2013) Fire Phenomena and the Earth System: An Interdisciplinary Guide to Fire Science. Wiley-Blackwell: Chichester. Available as an e-book via the Library website.
Scott, A.C., Bowman, D. M.J.S., Bond, W.J., Pyne, S., Alexander, M.E. (2014) Fire on Earth - an Introduction. Wiley-Blackwell: Chichester. Available as an e-book via the Library website.
Scott, A.C. (2018) Burning Planet: The Story of Fire through Time Oxford University Press: Oxford.
Key Journals: Science; Nature; International Journal of Wildland Fire; Fire Ecology; Journal of Ecology; Biogeochemistry; Science of the Total Environment; Journal of Geophysical Research - Biogeosciences; Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society - B.
Study hours
Scheduled activity hours | |
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Lectures | 20 |
Seminars | 10 |
Independent study hours | |
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Independent study | 170 |
Teaching staff
Staff member | Role |
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Gareth Clay | Unit coordinator |