Evolution of sedimentary environments in the Quaternary

elective courses

Basic knowledge in geology, geomorphology, sedimentology and research methods; passive knowledge of English at least at B2 level.

The aim of this tutorial is to present the functioning and changes of sedimentary environments (glacial, aeolian, fluvial, slope, etc.) during global climate changes expressed by glacial-interglacial cycles in the Quaternary (the last 2.58 million years) and also being the effect of human activity. The course will focus on the reconstruction of changes and their record in the structure and texture of deposits. One of the main targets of the tutorial is presentation of the methodology used to reconstruct particular sedimentary settings, their changes and causes of these changes. During the course the student may focus on a literature study or individually perform a selected analysis, a laboratory experiment, or undertake a discussion with the tutor.

The aim of this tutorial is to present the functioning and changes of sedimentary environments (glacial, aeolian, fluvial, slope, etc.) during the global climate changes expressed by glacial-interglacial cycles in the Quaternary (the last 2.58 million years) and also being the effect of human activity. Moreover, one of the main targets of the tutorial is how to recognise environments, describe their characteristic structural and textural features (e.g. grain size composition, heavy minerals content) and determine interactions between particular environments. The course will also focus on the methods used to reconstruct particular sedimentary environments, their changes and the causes of these changes. By applying the rule of actualism, knowledge gained during the course may be used to investigate the sedimentary setting in any other period of Earth’s history.

Development of ice-sheets and mountain glaciers, coupled with increasing permafrost range were characteristic elements of every glacial period. These phenomena led to the rearrangement of all components of the sedimentary environment in every climate zone, and also to the migration of climate zones. In turn, during interglacial periods developed soils, the vegetation cover was rebuilt, and aeolian covers and slope processes became stabilised. Record of these changes is expressed in the structural and textural features of deposits, and landforms.

Topics proposed by the students or/and by the tutor may be studied during the tutorial. They may concern particular sedimentary environments (aeolian, glacial, slope, weathering, etc.), selected research methods used in the study of particular environments, and performing a simple laboratory experiment.

The scheme of student’s work will be as follows.

1. The student, together with the tutor, chooses the topic, i.e. the sedimentary environment or the problem linked with it, e.g. aeolian silt transport. The investigation methods allowing for the reconstruction of the environment and their changes are selected. The student may also chose a laboratory experiment.

2. The form of the outcome is selected: literature analysis, laboratory investigations (e.g. grain size composition, scanning electron microscope viewing – SEM, roundness analysis of sand and gravel grains), or the procedure of the laboratory experiment.

3. Working hypothesis/es are formulated in the case of laboratory investigations or experiment.

4. Discussion of the implementation progress during the course.

5. Preparation of the report. When the report is based on a literature study, the student prepares a multimedia presentation on the topic. The student making a laboratory investigation or experiment prepares a written report, in which the research results are discussed.

On completing the course, the student realises at least 4 of the following effects (depending on the accepted crediting and the scope of the tutorial):

- knows how to distinguish and identify the sedimentary environment based on structural and textural features of the sediment;

- has knowledge how to reconstruct the processes shaping a given environment;

- knows how to identify particular landforms and how to reconstruct processes generating and shaping them;

- knows how to perform textural and structural analysis of the sediments (including SEM and XRD) and the importance of these analyses in the reconstruction of conditions prevailing in a given sedimentary environment and the intensity of processes acting within it;

- has the ability to reconstruct the climate changes recorded in the sedimentary features;

- has the knowledge how to reconstruct the weathering intensity in different climate zones;

- has knowledge on the conditions responsible for the development of aeolian processes, mass movements or how the development of river channels influences conditions in the entire basin;

- understands the importance of roundness analysis in the reconstruction of particular processes and their intensity;

- has the ability to prepare independently a presentation based on literature analysis and data from the Internet.

Obtaining a course credit requires participation in all tutorials, each time documented by the tutor in form of individual tutorial record sheets. The course is credited on the base of preparation of at least one of the following: investigation report, multimedia presentation during a conference, conference abstract, scientific paper. Each student is obliged to present a short summative talk (multimedia presentation) during a joint session of all tutees and their tutors, scheduled for the end of the academic year (June), in which the course takes place.

Not applicable