Environmental Science in the Field - for iPod/iPhone: Recent Episodes
The Open University
This is a one-week residential course which introduces a range of practical skills appropriate to the study of environmental science. You visit a variety of sites where you apply your knowledge of biology, chemistry, earth sciences and physics to study interactions and feedback in the environment, including landforms, soils, water and vegetation. These field studies are supported by tutorials and laboratory sessions in which you analyze your observations and the data that you have gathered; the course includes an introduction to statistical analysis. This material is taken from The Open University course SXR216 Environmental Science in the Field.
A lecturer explains what is involved in environmental field work; aims, objectives and the assessment of a field study.
Transcript -- A lecturer explains what is involved in environmental field work; aims, objectives and the assessment of a field study.
Carrying out a field study in a predominantly limestone-rich environment, identifying the depositional and erosional environments associated with a particular area and annotating to sketches.
Transcript -- Carrying out a field study in a predominantly limestone-rich environment, identifying the depositional and erosional environments associated with a particular area and annotating to sketches.
Habitat Study Phase One: indentifying the underlying geology using the vegetation cover, and describing the relationship between grass species and the underlying soils.
Transcript -- Habitat Study Phase One: indentifying the underlying geology using the vegetation cover, and describing the relationship between grass species and the underlying soils.
Steps taken in calculating the amount of evapotranspiration between two points, and the instruments involved.
Transcript -- Steps taken in calculating the amount of evapotranspiration between two points, and the instruments involved.
Measuring the water-flow rate between a set of given points, assessing the water quality and estimating the water budget.
Transcript -- Measuring the water-flow rate between a set of given points, assessing the water quality and estimating the water budget.
Assessing the soil types from the vegetation cover and the nutrients gradient across a slope.
Transcript -- Assessing the soil types from the vegetation cover and the nutrients gradient across a slope.
Transcript -- Understanding and identifying different grass species from different soil backgrounds