Sebastian Dötterl: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2024 |
| Name | Prof. Dr. Sebastian Dötterl |
| Name variants | Sebastian Doetterl Sebastian Dötterl |
| Field | Soil Ressources |
| Address | Professur für Bodenressourcen ETH Zürich, CHN F 31.1 Universitätstrasse 16 8092 Zürich SWITZERLAND |
| Telephone | +41 44 633 60 20 |
| sdoetterl@usys.ethz.ch | |
| URL | https://soilres.ethz.ch/ |
| Department | Environmental Systems Science |
| Relationship | Assistant Professor (Tenure Track) |
| Number | Title | ECTS | Hours | Lecturers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 061-0101-00L | Climate / Water / Soil   | 2 credits | 3G | H. Joos, R. Kretzschmar, P. Molnar, A. Carminati, S. Dötterl, M. G. Fellin, A. Frossard, T. Galí-Izard, N. Gruber, J. P. Leitão Correia , V. Picotti, J. Riboldi, C. Steger | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | Lectures, exercises and excursions serve as an introduction to atmospheric sciences, soil science and hydrology. Students gain a broad vision of the cutting edge topics that are being researched and studied at the Department of Environmental Systems Science at ETH, Eawag, WSL a.o. This will be the base for a future dialog between the field of landscape architecture and the field of sciences. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Students acquire basic knowledge in atmospheric sciences, hydrology and soil science: - Understanding basic chemical and physical processes in the atmosphere that influence weather and climate - Fundamentals about the classification of soils, soil-forming processes, physical and chemical soil properties, soil biology and ecology, soil degradation and protection - Knowledge of water balance, principles of integral water management and climatic factors in the field of hydrology Students develop an understanding of the relevance of these topics in the field of landscape architecture. Temporal and physical scale, research methods, units of measurement, lexicon, modes of representation and critical literature form the framework for the joint discourse. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | The course unit consists of the three courses "Climate", "Soil" and "Water", which are organized in modules. Module 1 “Climate”, 23–27.09.2024 - Atmospheric dynamics: weather conditions, precipitation formation, weather forecast - Carbon Cycle: atmospheric CO2 concentrations and its interaction with the physical climate system - Land-climate dynamics: interaction between the land surface and the climate system - Hydrology and water cycle: extreme precipitation, influence of climate change on the cryosphere - Introduction to geology: formation of rocks, geologic times, structural geology Module 2 “Soil”, 30.09.–04.10.24 - Introduction to soils: definition, function, formation, classification and mapping - Soil physics: soil texture, soil structure, soil water potentials, hydraulic conductivity - Soil chemistry and fertility: clay minerals and oxides, cation exange capacity, soil pH, essential plant nutrients - Soil biology and ecology: soil fauna and microflora, fungi, bacteria, food web, organic matter - Soil degradation and threats to soil resources: erosion, compactation, sealing, contamination, salinization Module 3 “Water”, 11.11.–15.11.2024 Basics: - Water supply: water balance, groundwater, water quality (water protection) - River restoration - Flooding, evapotranspiration/cooling of landscapes - Hydropower (everything is managed - lake levels, water flows, pumping) - hydrology in the anthropocene - Water management and storage | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | Course material will be provided. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | The course material includes a reading list. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | The courses "Climate", "Water" and "Soil" are organized with the Fundamental Studio I as joint one-week modules. The weekly schedules will be provided with the course materials. Module 1 "Climate", 23.–27.09.2024 Module 2 "Soil", 30.09.–04.10.24 Module 3 "Water", 11–15.11.2024 - The courses are held in English - The written session examination covers all three courses "Climate", "Soil" and "Water". | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Competencies |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 551-0205-00L | Challenges in Plant Sciences Number of participants limited to 40. | 2 credits | 2K | M. Paschke, K. Bomblies, S. Dötterl, J. Hille Ris Lambers, J. Jacobi, J. Six, S. C. Zeeman, further lecturers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | The colloquium “Challenges in Plant Sciences” is a core class of the Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center's PhD program. The colloquium introduces participants to the broad spectrum of plant sciences within the network. The course offers the opportunity to approach interdisciplinary topics in the field of plant sciences. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Objectives of the colloquium are: Introduction to resecent research in all fields of plant sciences Working in interdisciplinary teams on the topics Developing presentation and discussion skills | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | The topics encompass integrated knowledge on current plant research, ranging from the molecular level to the ecosystem level, and from basic to applied science while making use of the synergies between the different research groups within the PSC. More information on the content: https://www.plantsciences.uzh.ch/en/teaching/masters/colloquium.html | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Competencies |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 701-0518-00L | Soil Resources and Global Change Does not take place this semester. This course unit will be offered for the next time in autumn semester 2025. So far it has taken place in spring semester. | 3 credits | 2G | S. Dötterl, to be announced | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | Introduction to the importance, problems and concepts of soil development and the use of soil resources in a changing world. The lecture deals with the topic with examples from a global, European and Swiss context. Active participation and presence during the lectures are part of the performance assessment. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Understanding the - conditions under which soils develop and are used at the global scale - consequences and problems of the use of soil and the resulting pressure on soil resources - impact of climate and global change on the future development of soil resources - competencies concerning process understanding, system understanding as well as data analysis & interpretation of pedogenetical data will be taught and examined | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | Despite their numerous functions and their role in evaluating ecosystem services, soils and their diversity are often a sidelined element when it comes to the development of sustainable land use concepts. In many disciplines, soils are perceived as an important interface between dead and living elements of nature. All too often, however, soil processes are only included in a greatly simplified way for usage concepts or modeling of environmental and agricultural systems. This simplification does not correspond to the great global diversity of soils. They often vary greatly in terms of their resilience to, and ability to recover from, environmental stress. Also among the general public, the perception of the importance of soils as the basis of our ecosystems is diffuse at best. Measures for local soil protection and for the renaturation of near-natural ecosystems are widely supported, but as little as possible should change in the wallet and in consumer behavior. The result are translocation effects and more intensive use of soils and ecosystem resources in countries of the Global South to fulfill consumer needs of the Global North. The lecture gives an introduction to the meaning, problems and concepts of soil development and the use of soil resources in a changing world. The lecture also deals with the following current topics: What are the consequences of different conflicts (e.g. Russian attack on Ukraine) for soil health and food production in the affected region for the world market? What are the consequences of climate change for carbon storage in Swiss mountain soils? Or: How does massive deforestation and soil degradation affect nutrient cycles in tropical soils? The lecture is aimed at students in later semesters in the bachelor's program in environmental sciences, agricultural and environmental engineering as well as students in earlier semesters in the master's programs of the same name. It provides an overview of the global framework conditions under which soils develop and are used. It also sheds light on the impact of humans on different types of soil and how this changes the soil. Above all, skills for process and system understanding as well as data analysis and interpretation in soil research are taught. Indirect distrubances such as the effects of climate change (global warming, permafrost or drought stress) are treated as well as direct disturbances through land use (erosion, chemical pollution or soil destruction). Soil functions and soil formation, differences in regional and global soil development, disturbances of the water and air cycling of soils, forms of soil pollution as well as regional and global assessments of soil pollution are also discussed. The focus is thereby always on the consequences and problems of soil use and the resulting pressures and dangers for biogeochemical (nutrient) cycles, for the landscape water cycle and the restriction of soil functions through soil degradation. In addition to these focal points in the field of soil degradation and soil development, the lecture also gives insights into methods of regenerative agriculture, soil improvement and the remediation of polluted soils. Finally, the lecture illuminates the planning and legal implementation of soil protection with examples from different climate and land use zones in order to give the students an insight into the later professional practice of the future environmental and agricultural scientists. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | Handouts will be available for download. Related scientific articles will be recommended after each session. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | Some useful text books to know of: - Scheffer/Schachtschabel - Soil Science, Springer, Heidelberg, 2016. - Brady N.C. and Weil, R.R. The Nature and Properties of Soils. 14th ed. Prentice Hall, 2007. - Press & Siever: Allgemeine Geologie, 7th ed., Springer, Heidelberg, 2016. - Mason/Burt - Physical Geography, 5th ed., Oxford Uni. Press, Oxford, 2015. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | Prerequisites: Interest in land use, climate change and soil development. Basic knowledge in chemistry, biology and geology. A previous participation in lecture "Pedosphere" (701-0501-00L) is highly recommended. Knowledge of the content taught in the lecture series is a strict requirement. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Competencies |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 701-1695-00L | Soil Science Seminar | 0 credits | 1S | R. Kretzschmar, A. Carminati, S. Dötterl, E. Frossard, M. Hartmann | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | Invited external speakers present their research on current issues in the field of soil science and discuss their results with the participants. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Master and PhD students are introduced to current areas of research in soil sciences and get first-hand experience in scientific discussion. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Competencies |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||