NIGK15033U Marine Geoscience

Volume 2015/2016
Education

MSc programme in Geography and Geoinformatics
MSc programme in Geology-Geoscience

Content

The purpose of this course is to provide the student an understanding of marine sedimentary and depositional processes, marine transport processes and morphodynamics in shallow and deep water, marine environment and climate relations, palaeoceanography and practical experience in marine research methods, focusing on the Quaternary, Holocene and recent environments and deposits.  An important element of the course is the interdisciplinary approach combining geophysics (seismics and other acoustic methods), geomorphology, sedimentary studies and micropalaeontology (especially foraminifera). Another crucial aspect is the combination of theoretical and practical work, incl. active offshore marine geoscience fieldwork.

This theoretical and practical course in marine geoscience focusing on sedimentary and depositional processes linked to ocean currents and shallow-water coastal processes. The course will combine the use of acoustic methods (incl. seismics, multibeam imaging, subbottom profiling) and investigation of marine sediment cores.

The course is a compact course taking place on a field station as well as in the field. As part of the course, the students will partake in geomorphological field work in the shallow-marine/coastal region as well as on board a sea-going research vessel.

Learning Outcome

After the course the student is expected to be able to:

  • describe marine deposition and basic basin development.
  • describe and explain the role of ocean currents and coastal processes for sediment deposition and transport.
  • be able to carry out simple sediment transport calculations, and compare these with observed resulting morphological changes.
  • describe and explain the main processes governing Earth’s climate on long and short time scales
  • describe and explain the main geophysical, geological and geomorphological field techniques for studying marine geoscience.
  • collect, compute and visualize marine geo-data and information.
  • apply simple sediment transport models, and compare these with observed morphodynamics.
  • be able to identify strategies and methodologies, and to solve scientific problems in the marine geoscience research field.
  • demonstrate theoretical and practical knowledge of marine geosciences.
  • integrate theory, methodology, data and interpretation.
  • evaluate new information critically.
  • reflect on the integration of marine geoscience in the management of marine areas.

discuss the advances of a given method compared to other marine geoscience methods

Please see Absalon course page.

BSc in Geography and Geoinformatics or equivalent
BSc in Geology-Geoscience or equivalent
Intensive course of 10 days duration taking place as a summer school course (during August). Students are expected to have read the theoretical parts before the course in order to efficiently participate in the course corresponding to a workload of 15 hours. During the 10-day course, an average of 12 hours/day of teaching and practicals is expected. The report is expected to have a work load of 30 hours.
Students shall pay for their own travel to and from the teaching location as well as for food and lodgings.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Excursions
  • 60
  • Preparation
  • 17,5
  • Theory exercises
  • 60
  • Total
  • 137,5
Credit
5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
Report, deadline for handing in report: Two weeks after end course.
Exam registration requirements

Field trip participation is mandatory and must be approved.

Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
passed/not passed
Censorship form
No external censorship
Exam period

Several internal examiners.

Re-exam

If the exam registration requirement have not been fulfilled students must retake the course.

Criteria for exam assesment

Please see learning outcomes