Marine Geography (BSc)
UCAS Code: F841 or F842 (with a placement year)
Marine Geography is the study of the ocean and its coastlines - the geography of the sea. Marine geographers augment traditional landbased geographic skills with new techniques and approaches in order to understand the fascinating geography that lies offshore and beneath the ocean surface. Marine geography offers an offshore perspective and the opportunity to pursue studies beyond the low-water line.
Students on industrial placements, Dover Harbour.
The World Ocean, which covers 71% of the planet, may be considered as the last frontier on Earth for the exploration and development of resources to sustain humanity in the future. Because of its size, dynamic nature and diversity, the geography of the ocean environment is fundamental to our understanding of the natural systems of the living Planet. Wide expanses of seafloor and ocean area lie largely unexplored providing scope and opportunity for both academic research and applied careers.
Marine geographers study the socio-economic relationships between people and the physical characteristics of the sea and coast at global and local scales. This new approach to global change issues is characteristic of the Cardiff philosophy that seeks to integrate and synthesise knowledge about the world ocean and its coastlines to help decision-making about the future. Issues concerning fisheries, offshore oil and gas, ports and shipping, conservation, minerals and energy, strategic use and management, are all critical in terms of sustainable development and environmental protection.
Grab sampling survey of the seafloor on a European fieldcourse, Greece.
Cardiff is the birthplace of the Marine Geography discipline in UK. Historically, a major strand in the Cardiff course has been surveying and charting the marine environment in order to understand the component and spatial parts of the marine system. At present this involves some of the most advanced and exciting technology available. You will learn not only about classical hydrographic surveying techniques but also remote sensing by satellite, sonar surveys by remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), deep ocean submersible techniques, probing the ocean floor with 3Dseismic methods and deep ocean drilling.
The course involves a multidisciplinary approach to the wide range of data relating to society and the sea. Information acquired from a range of equipment and techniques is compiled using Geographical Information Systems (GIS). In this, advanced computer technology is used to juxtapose layers of spatial data to reveal the geography of the system. All students are trained in the use of standard computer GIS packages. The results of the GIS analyses are used not only to investigate the geography of the oceans but also to help decision-makers. For example, the School hosts the Severn Estuary Partnership, which uses Integrated Coastal Management techniques to co-ordinate and monitor implementation of socio-economic and environmental policies within the Estuary. It is also the UK centre for the EU EcoPorts Project, an international network for the exchange of experience and methodologies aimed specifically at sustainable development and environmental protection of Europe's ports and harbour areas. Studies involving the techniques of hydrographic surveying, GIS, and environmental management systems provide the opportunity to develop transferable skills recognized by the applied marine industries and a range of Governmental and Non-Governmental Organizations.
Cardiff has a long history of world-class research and teaching in marine geography. Staff at Cardiff produced the famous, ground-breaking Times Atlas of the Oceans, the current Lloyds Atlas of the World Ports and have contributed to the Admiralty Hydrographic Charts. Cardiff was the first place outside North America to host the Ocean Drilling Program (ODP), the largest global marine research programme, supported by a large number of different countries. This programme deploys the deep ocean drill ship JOIDES Resolution that samples the sub-surface of the ocean floor. The results of the ODP programme have resulted in some of the most exciting scientific discoveries of recent years. Cardiff staff are involved in planning the next stage of this programme.
The School has some 15 marine scientists on its teaching staff, many with sea-going experience, an international reputation for academic research and well-established links with industry. They specialise in a range of interests including coastal processes and ecosystems, marine environmental management, ocean basin evolution, deep ocean observatories, the application of ship-borne and submersible-mounted survey and sampling systems, and global climate change. The ocean-going scientists will teach you about current marine research expeditions and the latest research results, including how the planet is currently faring under anthropogenic stress, and what the future is likely to hold for mankind. Other staff will use their experience to explain how major marine policies are developed and implemented at international and national scales.
Guiding Light, our Marine Geography training vessel.
A significant amount of practical and applied experience is built into the degree scheme to assist you in developing professional skills. Situated in an estuary with a large tidal range and with access to a wide variety of coastal scenery, Cardiff is a splendid base for both traditional fieldwork and innovative seatime training. Following the fieldcourse programme in the first year (see Common First Year), in the second and third year you will acquire field skills at a range of European coastal and island locations. The School operates its own boat, "Guiding Light", and charters local vessels for such practicals as seismic surveying and benthic trawling. In addition, Cardiff students have taken part in UNESCO research cruises and carried out third year project work in marine research centres overseas. This gives you an invaluable background in practical aspects of small boat and ship research techniques, which provides you with an edge in the careers market.
The degree scheme of Marine Geography is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. You may also read for a 4-year degree in Marine Geography, where the third year is taken up with an Industrial Placement Scheme. This sandwich course is popular and the placements are much sought after, since these further enhance opportunities for future employment. The majority of placements are based in the UK, but some involve extensive time at sea around the world, while from time to time opportunities arise for placements based overseas. Recent examples of placements are:
- Port of Dover - Environmental survey assistant, Hydrographic survey assistant.
- Port of Milford Haven - Survey assistants.
- Port of Portland - Survey assistant.
- A & P Plymouth - Port Surveyor.
- Andrews Hydrographic - Hydrographic Surveyor.
- Fugro UDI - Survey assistant.
- Gardline Survey - Offshore survey assistant.
- H R Wallingford - Environmental Modeller.
- Meterological Office - Data processing assistant.
- Pembrokeshire National Park - Control Zone management assistant.
- Titan Environmental Surveys - Survey assistant.
- World Conservation Monitoring Centre - GIS programmer.
More details about this course can be found on the Coursefinder.