NNMK13000U Quaternary landforms: processes, architecture and sediments (1)
Over thousands of years, the landscape has been a background for life in Denmark. The landforms and sediments in the landscape are of fundamental importance for the society as a raw material and groundwater resource. In Denmark, pollution from agriculture, exploitation, and other activities is often transported through sediments. Most of the sediments were formed during the former ice ages by glaciers, melt water streams, sea level changes and periglacial processes in the deglaciated landscape. This is all caused by global environmental changes. The course aims to give the students an understanding of the genesis of the landscape and its internal architecture in relation to the glacial environmental changes especially over the last 150.000 years. Processes, sediments and landforms in modern glacial environments will be studied as an analogue to the ice age landscape. Sedimentological, biological, and structural geological methods will be demonstrated in the field at selected Danish localities. We will also study the geological history from the stratigraphy in open sections and borings. Analyses of digital elevation models, sediment core databases, and geological sections will be used to propose conceptual depositional models for selected areas. Initially, the course will focus on specific problems in the landforms, sediments, and stratigraphy of NW Sjælland. Subsequently, we will focus on glacially overprinted landscapes with examples from Mors, NE Sjælland and Møn. Finally, groups of students will write a report about spatial analysis of glacial landforms, sediments and stratigraphy including a proposal of a morphological-geological model for a selected study area in Denmark.
Knowledge:
- Have well founded and professional knowledge of the Quaternary geology of Denmark
- Have reached an understanding of the spatial structure of glacial landscapes
- Have knowledge about methods used in analysis of Quaternary landscapes and sediments
- Be able to establish spatial geological and depositional models
Skills:
The course gives the students theoretical knowledge of analyses of Quaternary landscapes and the processes and materials that formed them. They will be able to interpret depositional conditions and subsequent erosion and modification. During the exercises, the students will be introduced to morphological-geological models for selected areas in Denmark.
The students will be able to communicate knowledge about Quaternary geological key localities, Danish landscapes and the geological history.
Competencies:
- To give the students on the master’s level an understanding of the interplay between landscape development, climate change, the instability of ice sheets, and environmental changes as seen in glacial and interglacial sedimentary sequences and landforms.
- To be able to read and understand scientific papers at a high level.
- Analyse and understand complex structural and sedimentological datasets.
- Be able to communicate orally and written at a high scientific level.
- Category
- Hours
- Exam
- 1
- Excursions
- 24
- Lectures
- 28
- Preparation
- 111
- Theory exercises
- 42
- Total
- 206
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Oral examination, 40 minutesThe oral examination is 20 minutes per student. The student draws en exam question and has 20 minutes preparation time before being examined. Written aids are allowed.
- Exam registration requirements
- It is a requirement for exam registration that written exercises and/or oral presentations have been approved. Further details will be given at the first course day.
- Aid
- Written aids allowed
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- External censorship
Criteria for exam assesment
See course objectives.
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- NNMK13000U
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 1 block
- Placement
- Block 1
- Schedule
- C (Mon 13-17 + Wednes 8-17)
- Course capacity
- 30
- Continuing and further education
- Study board
- Study Board of Geosciences and Management
Contracting department
- The Natural History Museum of Denmark
Course responsibles
- Anders Schomacker (17-68756b6c797a357a6a6f7674686a726c794769707635727c356b72)