Duration
10h Th
Number of credits
| Master in population and development studies (120 ECTS) | 3 crédits |
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
The course (10 hours in total) focuses on specificities and diversity of inter and subtropical climates, as well as on some societal implications of these characteristics (e.g. food production, water availability, natural hazards).
The first part of the course (ca. 4 hours) provides a general introduction on climatology and discusses:
- The factors controlling spatial and temporal variation in climates
- Global patterns of atmospheric circulation and their effects on climate
- Current theories on natural and human-induced climate change
- Methods and principles of climatic classification
- Their characteristics (e.g. rainy and dry seasons, occurrence of tropical cyclones) and the mechanisms that explain them
- Implications of these climatic characteristics for societies and resulting challenges for development (e.g. water availability, salinization problems, floods and landslide hazards, etc.)
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
After following this course, the student should have:
- A basic understanding of the factors and mechanisms that control climate.
- Insight into the large variability of tropical and sub-tropical climates and their properties
- Knowledge of the major societal challenges posed by these different types of climate.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Good general formation and interest for the subject.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Teaching in interaction with the students. While some of the course material may be in English, the main teaching language is French.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)
face-to-face
Recommended or required readings
The course material consists of the handouts of the presentations used during the lectures. While these handouts are relatively complete, students are adviced to take additional notes.
For interested students, recommended literature on specific subjects will be provided during the course.
Assessment methods and criteria
Oral examination with written preparation (in French, closed-book).
Depending on practical circumstances, the exam of the third session (august/september) may be replaced by a written exam (closed-book). Students will be notified beforehand about this.
Work placement(s)
Organizational remarks
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Contacts
Matthias Vanmaercke
Bât. B11 Géographie physique et du quaternaire
Quartier Village 4
clos Mercator 3
4000 Liège 1
Belgique
Telephone : +32 4 3665267
email: Matthias.Vanmaercke@ulg.ac.be