The transfer and redistribution of mass and chemical elements at the Earth’s surface is controlled by a wide range of processes that will affect the magnitude and nature of fluxes exported from continental fluvial systems. This course addresses the production, transport, and deposition of sediments from source to sink and their interaction with biogeochemical cycles.
Learning objective
This course aims at integrating different earth science disciplines (geomorphology, geochemistry, and tectonics) to gain a better understanding of the physical and biogeochemical processes at work across the sediment production, routing, and depositional systems. It will provide insight into how it is actually possible to “see a world in a grain of sand” by taking into account the cascade of physical and chemical processes that shaped and modified sediments and chemical elements from their source to their sink.
Content
Lectures will introduce the main source to sink concepts and cover physical and biogeochemical processes in upland, sediment producing areas (glacial and periglacial processes; mass movements; hillslopes and soil processes/development; critical zone biogeochemical processes).
Field excursion (3 days, 8-10 October): will cover the upper Rhône from the Rhône glacier to the Rhône delta in Lake Geneva) as small scale source-to-sink system.
Practicals comprise (I) a small autonomous project on the Rhône catchment based on samples collected during the field trip and (II) an independent report on how you would design, build, and implement your own source-to-sink study.
Lecture notes
Lecture notes are provided online during the course. They summarize the current subjects week by week and provide the essential theoretical background.
Literature
Suggested references :
- "Sediment routing systems: the fate of sediments from Source to Sink" by Philip A. Allen (Cambridge University Press) - "Principles of soilscape and landscape evolution by Garry Willgoose" (Cambridge University Press) - "Geomorphology, the mechanics and chemistry of landscapes" by Robert S. Anderson & Suzanne P. Anderson (Cambridge University Press)
Performance assessment
Performance assessment information (valid until the course unit is held again)
Performance assessment as a semester course