• Offered by Fenner School of Environment and Society
  • ANU College ANU Joint Colleges of Science
  • Classification Advanced
  • Course subject Environmental Science
  • Areas of interest Earth and Marine Sciences, Geography, Science, Climate, Environmental Science

Australia and the Asia-Pacific region experience a wide variety of weather and climate extremes that have remarkable impacts on lives, livelihoods and property. This course focuses on the in-depth analysis of different types of severe weather events and climate extremes, with a focus on Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.  Floods, tropical cyclones, wind events, thunderstorms, hailstorms, tornadoes, heatwaves, droughts, bushfires and dust storms, as well as the impacts of climate change upon these systems, are studied with an emphasis on understanding the meteorological factors that drive these phenomena, their economic and social impacts, and assessing and communicating their associated risks. You will have the opportunity to learn from experts across the ANU and from organisations such as the Australian Bureau of Meteorology and state/territory emergency services. A series of hands-on situational workshops teaches you to apply your knowledge of severe weather and to draw on your learning in complementary areas including atmospheric science, climatology, climate change science and policy, natural hazards, bushfire science, water resource management, epidemiology and economics.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

On satisfying the requirements of this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
1. Describe, explain and critically analyse the physical processes that lead to the occurrence of severe weather events.
2. Critically interpret forecasts of severe weather events.
3. Provide advanced and focused assessments of risk from severe weather events through the use of meteorological forecast and observation products.
4. Explain the economic and social costs of severe weather events at a high level to a wide range of  audiences and stakeholders with scientific proficiency, drawing on previous academic and professional experience.

Indicative Assessment

1. Tutorial Facilitation 20%  [LO 1,2,3,4]
2. Situation Room Exercises (3) 45% [LO 1,2,3]
3. Major Report 25% [LO 3,4]
4. Executive Brief 10% [LO 3,4]

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Workload

A total of 130 hours, including 60 contact hours comprising a combination of lectures, practicals, workshops, tutorials and in-class assessment, and a further 70 hours of self study.

Requisite and Incompatibility

Incompatible with ENVS3011

Prescribed Texts

Reading materials are provided via the course website and University Library.

Assumed Knowledge

It is recommended that students have previously taken one or both of ENVS6204 Weather, Climate and Fire, and ENVS6303 Climatology. Academic background or professional experience in a relevant area is an advantage.

Specialisations

Fees

Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.  

If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.

Student Contribution Band:
2
Unit value:
6 units

If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.  Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.

Units EFTSL
6.00 0.12500
Domestic fee paying students
Year Fee
2017 $3660
International fee paying students
Year Fee
2017 $4878
Note: Please note that fee information is for current year only.

Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links

ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.

The list of offerings for future years is indicative only.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.

First Semester

Class number Class start date Last day to enrol Census date Class end date Mode Of Delivery Class Summary
4520 20 Feb 2017 27 Feb 2017 31 Mar 2017 26 May 2017 In Person N/A

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