Search result: Catalogue data in Spring Semester 2021

Earth Sciences Master Information
Major in Geology
Restricted Choice Modules Geology
A minimum of two restricted choice modules must be completed for the major Geology.
Sedimentology
Sedimentology: Courses of Choice
NumberTitleTypeECTSHoursLecturers
651-4134-00LTectonic Geomorphology Information Restricted registration - show details
Prerequisite for 651-4134-01L Tectonic Geomorphology Field Course

Priority is given to D-ERDW students. If space is available UZH Geography and Earth System Sciences students may attend this field course at full cost.
W3 credits2VE. Deal
AbstractCourse covers the theory and applications of tectonic geomorphology. Topics include the landscape response to an earthquake, use of fluvial terraces and other geomorphic markers to map uplift, methods of dating surfaces and landscapes, topographic evolution over active structures and landscape evolution of active mountain ranges. Methods include field mapping, DEM analysis and computer modeling.
ObjectiveTo learn theoretical and practical aspects of modern tectonic geomorphology. Classroom and computer-based analysis will be combined to provide hands-on experience with geomorphic data, analysis and modeling techniques. We will work through a series of practicals based on real world case studies that will build on the concepts learned in class.
ContentCourse includes a lecture component (in second half-semester) and a series of classroom practicals. Students should also register for the associated fieldtrip component, which will hopefully be able to take place. The fieldtrip will involve collecting field data from active structures in the Northern Apennines. Lecture component will include theoretical background and analysis of real world data.
LiteratureRequired Textbook: Tectonic Geomorphology, Burbank and Anderson, Blackwell.
Prerequisites / NoticeStudents should register for both lecture and field components (blockcourse). If the fieldtrip is able to take place, they will be graded together. Fieldtrip will be held during 1 week of the semester.

Geography and Earth System Sciences students UZH may attend the lecture but will have to pay the full amount for this field course (no subsidies from UZH).
651-4134-01LTectonic Geomorphology Field Course Information Restricted registration - show details
Prerequisite: 651-4134-00L Tectonic Geomorphology (lecture)

Priority is given to D-ERDW students. If space is available UZH Geography and Earth System Sciences students may attend this field course at full cost.
W3 credits6PV. Picotti
AbstractCourse covers the applications of tectonic geomorphology. Topics include the landscape response to an earthquake, use of fluvial terraces and other geomorphic markers to map uplift, topographic evolution over active structures and landscape evolution of active mountain ranges. Methods include field mapping and description of key outcrops.
ObjectiveTo learn practical aspects of modern tectonic geomorphology. The field course will be combined with classroom and computer-based analysis to provide hands-on experience with geomorphic data, analysis and modelling techniques. We will work as a group to address the practical questions regarding evidence for recent deformation of the northern Apennines as an integrated field and modeling study. We will learn to use a variety of geomorphic and tectonic data to map uplift rates and patterns and use this to infer subsurface faulting kinematics.
ContentCourse includes a 9 day fieldtrip (in second half-semester) to be integrated with the lecture component. Students are invited to register for both components. Fieldtrip will involve collecting geologic and geomorphic field data from active structures in the Northern Apennines.
LiteratureRequired Textbook: Tectonic Geomorphology, Burbank and Anderson, Blackwell.
Prerequisites / NoticeAlthough separated from the theory part for practical reasons, students have to register for both lecture and field course. Fieldtrip will be held during 1 week of the semester, typically in early May.

Students registering for the course confirm having read and accepted the terms and conditions for excursions and field courses of D-ERDW Link

Geography and Earth System Sciences students UZH may attend the lecture but will have to pay the full amount for this field course (no subsidies from UZH).
101-0302-00LClays in Geotechnics: Problems and ApplicationsW3 credits2GM. Plötze
AbstractThis course gives a comprehensive introduction in clay mineralogy, properties, characterising and testing methods as well as applied aspects and problems of clays and clay minerals in geotechnics.
ObjectiveUpon successful completion of this course the student is able to:
- Describe clay minerals and their fundamental properties
- Describe/propose methods for characterisation of clays and clay minerals
- Draw conclusion about specific properties of clays with a focus to their potential use, problematics and things to consider in geotechnics and engineering geology.
Content- Introduction to clays and clay minerals (importance and application in geosciences, industry and everyday life)
- Origin of clays (formation of clays and clay minerals, geological origin)
- Clay mineral structure, classification and identification incl. methods for investigation (e.g., XRD)
- Properties of clay materials, characterisation and quantification incl. methods for investigation (e.g., cation exchange, rheology, plasticity, shearing, swelling, permeability, retardation and diffusion)
- Clay Minerals in geotechnics: Problems and applications (e.g. soil mechanics, barriers, slurry walls, tunnelling)
Lecture notesLecture slides and further documents will be provided.
651-4080-00LFluvial SedimentologyW2 credits2GP. Huggenberger
AbstractUnderstanding the relationship between sediment transport, sediment sorting and sedimentary structures in coarse fluvial deposts.
ObjectiveDescription of coarse fluvial sediments, to understand the sedimentary processes of braided river systems, to get familiar with modeling concepts of braided river systems and sediment sorting processes, description and comparison of modern river sediments (systems) and ancient systems, discussion of applied aspects of fluvial sedimentology
Audiance: Students in Geo- or Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences and Geography
Content- Advanced methods for the description of fluvial sediments of coarse fluvial systems, including geophysical methods
- Facies analysis and interpretation, description of sediment sorting, textures and structures of coarse fluvial systems
- Understanding sediment sorting and sediment transport processes of coarse gravelly rivers (the role of turbulence)
- Recognition of the relation between surface morphology (earth surface) and geological structures to recognize in outcrops or along cliffs
- Influence of preservation potential of sedimentary units in dynamic environments
- Landscape shaping processes
- Applied fluvial sedimentology
- recent developments in investigation methods
Lecture notesHandouts will be provided during semester (Text, Appendix, Figures)
LiteratureBridge, John S., 2003, Rivers and Floodplains; Forms, Processes and Sedimentary RecordCalow,

Best, J. L. and Bristow, C. S., 1993, Braided Rivers, Geological Society Special Publication, No 75.

Clifford, N. J. et al. 1993, Turbulence, Perspectives on Flow and Sediment Transport, Wiley, 360 p.

P. and Petts, G., 1995, The Rivers Handbook: Hydrological and Ecological Principles, Volume I and II

Miall, A. D., 1985, The Geology of Fluvial Deposits, Sedimentary Facies Analysis, Basin Analysis, and Petroleum Geology

Chiang, H. H. 1992, Fluvial Processes in River Engineering
Prerequisites / NoticeStudy of selected papers related to the course
Requirements: Basic courses in Geo- or Earth Sciences

Working Excursions as important topic of the course (according to the ETH Corona protection Measures)

Students registering for the course confirm having read and accepted the terms and conditions for excursions and field courses of D-ERDW Link
651-4902-00LQuaternary Geology and Geomorphology of the Alps Information Restricted registration - show details
Geography and Earth System Sciences students UZH may attend the lecture but will have to pay the full amount for the excursion (no subsidies from UZH).
W3 credits2VS. Ivy Ochs, N. Akçar, U. H. Fischer
AbstractAfter a brief introduction to the scientific principles of glaciology, we survey the present state of knowledge on Pleistocene glacial periods and post-glacial landscape modification in the Alps. Emphasis is on understanding modes of formation of landscape elements attributable to glacial, glaciofluvial, periglacial, fluvial, hillslope, and mass wasting processes.
ObjectiveThrough a combination of lectures, classroom practical exercises, and field mapping of Quaternary landforms, an intuitive understanding of the formation and evolution of the landscape of the Alps and the forelands will be built up.
We focus on development of the following skills: landform recognition on remote imagery and in the field; depositional process identification based on sediment characterization; reconstruction of valley-scale geomorphological evolutionary sequences.
ContentThe following topics will be covered: glacier mass and energy balance; glacier motion; glacier hydrology; glacial erosion; glacial sediment balance; piedmont and valley glacier landsystems; till formation; glaciofluvial sediments; alluvial and debris-flow fan processes; Alpine rock slope failure landform/sediment associations; Alpine Quaternary stratigraphy; long-term uplift and denudation of the Alps.
Lecture notesSlides from the lectures will be made available.
LiteratureLists of key scientific articles will be given for each topic.
Relevant scientific articles will be distributed during the course.
Prerequisites / NoticeStudents registering for the course confirm having read and accepted the terms and conditions for excursions and field courses of D-ERDW Link

Required attendance at lectures and excurisions (several 1-day excursions during the semester and one 3-day field mapping session during the summer).

Geography and Earth System Sciences students UZH may attend this excursion at full costs (no subsidies from UZH).

Grading will be a combination of classroom participation, student presentations, practical exercises, field reports, and field maps from the excursions.
651-4004-00LThe Global Carbon Cycle - ReducedW3 credits2GT. I. Eglinton, L. Bröder, R. G. Hilton
AbstractThe carbon cycle connects different reservoirs of C, including life on Earth, atmospheric CO2, and economically important geological reserves of C. Much of this C is in reduced (organic) form, and is composed of complex chemical structures that reflect diverse biological activity, processes and transformations.
ObjectiveA wealth of information is held within the complex organic molecules, both in the context of the contemporary carbon cycle and its links to is other biogeochemical cycles, as well as in relation to Earth's history, the evolution of life and climate on this planet.

In this course we will learn about the role of reduced forms of carbon in the global cycle, how these forms of carbon are produced, move around the planet, and become sequestered in the geological record, and how they can be used to infer biological activity and conditions on this planet in the geologic past. The course encompasses a range of spatial and temporal scales, from molecular to global, and from the contemporary environment to earliest life.
Prerequisites / NoticeThis course is good preparation for the combined Field-Lab Course: "651-4044-02 P Geomicrobiology and Biogeochemistry Field Course" and "651-4044-01 P Geomicrobiology and Biogeochemistry Lab Practical"
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