Z8351 Tectonic geomorphology

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2024
Extent and Intensity
1/1. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Taught in person.
Teacher(s)
RNDr. Petra Štěpančíková, Ph.D. (lecturer), doc. RNDr. Zdeněk Máčka, Ph.D. (deputy)
Guaranteed by
doc. RNDr. Zdeněk Máčka, Ph.D.
Department of Geography – Earth Sciences Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: doc. RNDr. Zdeněk Máčka, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Geography – Earth Sciences Section – Faculty of Science
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of geomorphological processes and having the course/exam from Geomorphology
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/20, only registered: 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Tectonic processes play an important role in formation of georelief such as mountains, basins etc. Tectonic geomorphology deals with landforms reflecting the tectonic processes, characterizing of their type and intensity. Besides folding and aseismic creep there are tectonic processes where accumulated energy is released during earthquakes, which represents an important natural hazard. The tectonic processes may trigger or enhance other exogenous geodynamic processes such as landslides, rock falls, increased erosion etc. Understanding of tectonic processes in the past and their role in landforms evolution is important for natural hazard assessment including both endogenous and related exogenous processes, in particular in densely populated regions. Therefore, it is important to pay proper attention to the tectonic processes.
Learning outcomes
Main objectives can be summarized as follows:
- to learn basic tectonic processes and their impact on georelief
- to compare individual tectonic landforms resulted from different tectonic regimes
- to select appropriate methods for tectonic relief analysis
- to analyze fluvial system and slopes with respect to tectonic control evaluation
- to understand principles and methods of paleoseismology
- to infer type of tectonic movements from interdisciplinary data from geomorphology, geology, geodesy, geophysics
Syllabus
  • 1. Tectonics and various levels of study of tectonic processes based on spatial and time scales. Definition of active tectonics, tectonic processes and their types resulting from different tectonic regimes related to plate tectonics 2. Earthquakes and their causes, characteristics, primary and secondary effects. Seismic hazard. 3. Tectonic geomorphology, various theories on the role of tectonics in relief formation, types of uplift 4. Various landforms related to different types of movements (vertical or horizontal movements) 5. Response of tectonic processes in fluvial system, drainage basin asymmetry, analysis of stream network. Analysis of tectonically disturbed fluvial landforms - river terraces, alluvial fans, analysis of longitudinal stream profiles and valley cross sections 6. Active mountain fronts. Fault scarps, their evolution, degradation and possibility of their dating 7. Morphometric methods of tectonic relief analysis and evaluation of tectonic processes intensity. Planation surfaces and their different position as an indicator of potential tectonic movements 8. Paleoseismology, study of prehistoric earthquakes from geological record, movements reconstruction. Study of paleoseismic parameters of active faults, movement intensity, slip rate, spatio-temporal earthquake distribution on a fault 9. Geophysical and geodetic methods of active tectonics study, review of methods for present-day movements monitoring
Literature
    recommended literature
  • Keller, E. A., Pinter, N.. Active tectonics-Earthquakes, Uplift and Landscape. 2nd ed. Prentice Hall, New Jersey. 2002, 362, ISBN 0-13-088230-5
  • Bull W. B.. Tectonic Geomorphology of Mountains. Blackwell Publishing, 2007, 316. ISBN 978-1-4051-5479-6
  • BURBANK, Douglas West and Robert S. ANDERSON. Tectonic geomorphology. 2nd ed. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley-Blackwell. xiv, 454. ISBN 9781444338874. 2012. info
  • Schumm S. A., Dumont J. F., Holbrook J. M. Active Tectonics and Alluvial Rivers. Cambridge University Press, 2006, 276. ISBN 0521-89058-6
  • Paleoseismology. Edited by James McCalpin. 2nd ed. Amsterdam: Elsevier. xvi, 613. ISBN 9780123735768. 2008. info
Teaching methods
Lectures on tectonic geomorphology and following seminars with practice of methods analysing tectonic landforms that will be online. A field trip to a locality with active fault exposure and tectonic landforms with discussion of the related topics.
Assessment methods
The course is finished with written exam with compementary oral questions, either personally or online. Participation at the field trip is mandatory, if there is a serious objection, it could be replaced by a seminar work on psecific topics.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught once in two years.
The course is taught: in blocks.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2012, spring 2012 - acreditation, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2022.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2024, recent)
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