Module Details
The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title KEY SKILLS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL DATA ANALYSIS
Code ENVS202
Coordinator Prof CW Hughes
Earth, Ocean and Ecological Sciences
C.W.Hughes@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2020-21 Level 5 FHEQ First Semester 15

Aims

To develop skills in environmental data analysis by applying the Matlab  computing package to process, analyse and plot data. To develop a critical approach to the results of data analysis .

Learning Outcomes

(LO1) 1. Knowledge and Understanding  At the end of the module the student should a) know how to write a program script in MATLAB. b) know how to process and plot ocean and climate data using Matlab

(LO2) 2. Intellectual Abilities  At the end of the module the student should be able to: a) know how to construct problems and use problem solving skills.b) analyse and interpret signals in environmental data.c) implement programming methods used for simple models and time-series analysis

(LO3) 3. Subject Based Practical Skills  At the end of the module the student should be able to: a) write a computer program to analyse and plot environmental data. b) interpret a range of forms of plotted data

(LO4) 4. General Transferable Skills  At the end of the module, the student should have: a) Gained ability in formulating problems and acquiring order of magnitude solutions. b) Gained computing skills and familiarity with computing methods and programming. c) Gained confidence and ability in interpreting data presented in a variety of forms

(S1) Problem solving skills

(S2) Numeracy

Syllabus
 

Syllabus Semester One (exact timings may vary)

Rationale Week One

Introduction to the course, benefits from using MATLAB to solve climate,ocean and ecological problems involving large data sets.  Setting up MATLAB and getting started .

Block One Computing skills using MATLAB

An Introduction to the computing package Matlab
Matlab programming (use of scripts, flow control)
Matlab input and output of data
Matlab plotting of data  
A sea level example.

Block Two Using real-world data to develop programming skills in MATLAB.
Reading, plotting, and calculating derived information from an atmospheric CO2 dataset.

Block Three An application to Climate data
Use of "if" conditional statements to test data
Use of loops to analyse arrays of data
Simple contouring of data
Controlling MATLAB functions and exploring further.
Least squares fitting, correlations, and variance explained.

Teaching and Learning Strategies

Teaching Method 1 - Lecture
Description: Introduction of the week's programming technique and the associated data problem.
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Teaching Method 2 - Laboratory Work
Description: Computer laboratory to develop the programming technique and apply it to real data.
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Teaching Schedule
  Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
Study Hours 10

         10

 20
Timetable (if known)              
Private Study 130
TOTAL HOURS 150

Assessment
EXAM Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
             
CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
VITAL Online test 1: Matlab techniques and data interpretation There is a resit opportunity. Standard UoL penalty applies for late submission. This is an anonymous assessment. Assessment Schedu  Test length approxim    30       
VITAL online test: Matlab techniques and global Carbon part 1. There is a resit opportunity. Standard UoL penalty applies for late submission. This is an anonymous assessment. Assessment Schedu  Test length approxim    15       
VITAL online test: Matlab techniques and global Carbon part 2. There is a resit opportunity. Standard UoL penalty applies for late submission. This is an anonymous assessment. Assessment Schedu  Test length approxim    15       
VITAL online test: Matlab techniques and data interpretation 2. There is a resit opportunity. Standard UoL penalty applies for late submission. This is an anonymous assessment. Assessment Sched  Test length approxim    40       

Recommended Texts
Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.