Geology of Scotland's Coast The University of Edinburgh

Overview

Through the Geology of Scotland's Coast from The University of Edinburgh you will explore the coastline and islands as a rich natural laboratory, from rocky cliffs and headlands to long sandy beaches, estuaries and deep-sea lochs. You will examine a wide range of rock types, learning how they reveal Scotland’s long and complex geological history and investigate how the landscape has been shaped my marine and glacial erosion.

You will also consider why the coast continues to change today, and how sea-level rise and climate change are likely to reshape it in the future.

Any recommended reading will be advised by the course teacher once the course is confirmed to run. You will require access to a computer or other device with internet connection.

If you have fully engaged with all the learning activities and have attended regularly, by the end of the course you should be able to:

• Describe the main rock types and geological framework of Scotland, and explain how these underpin the diversity of Scotland’s coastline and how this has influenced people in the past and present
• Explain and evaluate the key coastal geological processes, the timescales they operate over, and assess how Scotland’s coast may change in the future
• Apply transferable skills in observation, recording and analysis by identifying and interpreting common coastal rocks/features, and communicating evidence-based conclusions clearly (e.g., through field notes, sketches, photos, and short written summaries)