PřF:G4121 Quaternary geology - Course Information

G4121 Quaternary geology

Extent and Intensity

2/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching

Teacher(s)

doc. Mgr. Martin Ivanov, Dr. (lecturer)
Mgr. Andrea Musilová (assistant)
Mgr. Aleš Plichta (assistant)

Guaranteed by

doc. Mgr. Martin Ivanov, Dr.
Department of Geological Sciences – Earth Sciences Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: Ing. Jana Pechmannová
Supplier department: Department of Geological Sciences – Earth Sciences Section – Faculty of Science

Timetable

Thu 13:00–14:50 G1,01004, Thu 15:00–15:50 G1,01004

Prerequisites (in Czech)

! G4121k Quaternary geology && !NOW( G4121k Quaternary geology ) && ( (!(PROGRAM(B-GE)||PROGRAM(N-GE)||PROGRAM(D-GE4)||PROGRAM(D-GE)||PROGRAM(C-CV))) || (NOW( G0101 Occupational healt and safety )&&NOW( C7777 Handling chemical substances )))

Course Enrolment Limitations

The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 78 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 27/78, only registered: 0/78, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/78

fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with

there are 47 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display

Course objectives

The course gives actual general knowledge of complex Quaternary research. At the end of the course, students should be able to: understand problems of climate development and climate changes manifestations at the Pliocene/Pleistocene boundary and throughout the Pleistocene and Holocene; be familiar with problematics of Pleistocene and Holocene stratigraphy and biostratigraphy; recognize the most common types of Quaternary deposits; understand the importance of fauna and flora research as important climatic indicators.

Learning outcomes

Student will be informed on issues related to the Quaternary climatic evolution and its impact on biota composition. Using the basic methods of Quaterary geological research, he will be able to identify the most common types of Quaternary deposits.

Syllabus

1. Quaternary, its definition and characteristics • time frame of the Quaternary and its basic division, type locality of the beginning of the Quaternary • basic climatic characteristics of the Quaternary • cryosphere, its basic division, basic classification of glaciers

2. Causes of Quaternary climatic changes and the oldest Cenozoic cold fluctuations • causes of climatic changes (astronomical theory, additional factors) • pre-Pleistocene cold climatic fluctuations - evidence from the Antarctic region • the oldest loess outcrops in Europe

3. Cold climatic fluctuations - an overview of European glaciations • an overview of the main European glaciations and their influence on the development of the river network in northern Europe

4. Quaternary climatic cycle and fluctuations of the I. to III. order • Quaternary climatic cycle and its phases • Quaternary climatic fluctuations I., II. and III. order and their examples •Development of the Quaternary flora – the Pliocene/Pleistocene boundary, generally the development of flora in the interglacial and glacial periods

5. Pleistocene fauna of Europe, fauna and climatic reconstructions • development of the European mammal fauna at the end of the Pliocene and at the beginning of the Pleistocene, the Equus-Mammuthus event and the Wolf event • mammal fauna of the Early, Middle and Late Pleistocene, extinction of glacial communities at the end of the Pleistocene • overview of important Pleistocene mammal representatives and their basic ecological requirements • climatic indicators; example of a typical interglacial and glacial faunal community

6. Glacial sediments • glacigenic sediments, horizontal and vertical division of the continental glacial system • tills – their characteristics, formation and division – primary tills and their division, secondary tills and their division; • glacifluvial sediments • glacilacustrine sediments

7. Glacial geomorphology and the importance of glacial drifts • glacial landforms and their characteristics - moraine, kam, kam terrace, hummocky moraine, dead ice, roche moutonnée, trog, drumlin, nunatak; glacial abrasion and its examples • glacial pebbles - definition, division, importance.

8. Periglacial processes • definition of the periglacial region • permafrost, its definition and division, evidence of the existence of permafrost, occurrence of permafrost • cryogenic structures - post-cryogenic textures, frost wedges, their formation, division and occurrence in our country • cryosegregation structures - their division and examples from our territory; cryoturbation

9. Aeolian and slope sediment • aeolian sediments – loess, loess series, windblown sands • slope (colluvial) sediment

10. Fluvial, lacustrine, swamp, spring and cave sediments • fluvial sediments s.l. – alluvial cones and fluvial sediments of the s.s., basic geomorphological concepts – floodplain, aspen, aggradational bank, floods • limnic sediments • swamp and peat sediments • sediments of springs and spring streams • cave sediments

11. Natural environment in the Eemian and last glacial periods - overview of localities • duration of the Eemian interglacial, vegetation characteristics • examples of localities with Eemian sediments from abroad and from us • climatic characteristics of the last (Vistulian) glacial period - interstadials of the last glacial period and their general characteristics • significant localities of the last glacial period

12. The most important Quaternary regions of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia • continental glaciation of northern Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia • Quaternary eolian and fluvial sediments of the Upper Morava Valley, Vyškov Gate, Dyje-Svratka Valley, Lower Morava valley and Záhorská lowland

Literature

recommended literature
• RŮŽIČKOVÁ, Eliška. Kvartérní klastické sedimenty České republiky :struktury a textury hlavních genetických typů. 1. vyd. Praha: Česká geologická služba, 2003, 68 s., 92. ISBN 80-7075-600-4. info

not specified
• LOWE, J. J. and M. J. C. WALKER. Reconstructing quaternary environments. Third edition. New York: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2015, xxviii, 53. ISBN 9780131274686. info
• Encyclopedia of quaternary science. Edited by Scott A. Elias - Cary J. Mock. 2nd ed. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2013, lxi, 903. ISBN 9780444594938. info
• Encyclopedia of quaternary science. Edited by Scott A. Elias - Cary J. Mock. 2nd ed. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2013, lxi, 952. ISBN 9780444594921. info
• Encyclopedia of quaternary science. Edited by Scott A. Elias - Cary J. Mock. 2nd ed. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2013, lxi, 928. ISBN 9780444594914. info
• Encyclopedia of quaternary science. Edited by Scott A. Elias - Cary J. Mock. 2nd ed. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2013, lxi, 848. ISBN 9780444594945. info
• WILSON, R. C. L.; S. A. DRURY and J. L. CHAPMAN. The great ice age : climate change and life. 1st ed. London: Routledge, 2000, xiv, 267. ISBN 0415198429. info

Teaching methods

The course consists of theoretical lectures, exercises, and field excursions.
As part of the exercise, students will be introduced to methods of Quaternary sediments mapping. The course includes two excursions for those interested. Participation in excursions will not be mandatory.

Assessment methods

Lectures run weekly, the final assessment is by way of the written test.

Language of instruction

Czech

Further Comments

Study Materials
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
The course is taught annually.

Listed among pre-requisites of other courses

• G4121k Quaternary geology
  !G4121 && !NOW(G4121)  

• Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  
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