geological oceanography

Duration

20h Th, 20h Pr, 1d FW

Number of credits

Lecturer

Nathalie Fagel

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The cusus is divided in two parts:
Geological oceanography;
Geochemical oceanography.

The syllabus is organised through five chapters:
- ocean formation and evolution;
- oceanic supplies and transport through water column;
- marine sedimentology;
- processes at water-sediment interface and diagenesis sequence;
- trace element distribution in ocean and proxy for paleoceanography

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

The cursus is divided in two parts.
The first part is an introduction to geological oceanography (10h). We will study the origin and evolution of the oceanic basins in relationship with the theory of Plate Tectonic.
In the second part, we will examine the particulate and dissoled exchanges between the ocean and the adjacant reservoirs (lithosphere, atmosphere). The aim is to understand how elements could be used as proxy for paleoenvironmental and paleoceanographical reconstructions.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

None. The cursus will be adapted according to the audience.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

(a) Various kind of exercices. Analyse of cartographic documents. Observation of marine sediments (sands) and rocks (binocular loup, microscope). Preparation and sedimentological analyse(s).
(b) Personal work. Oral presentation with supports (15 minutes) of one selected oceanic borehole and short written report. The talk must presented the four following parts: the general characteristics of the basin (location, climate, hydrodynamics..), its geological formation and evolution, its sedimentology, a synthesis of one paleoceanographic proxy presented in a scientific paper.

  

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)

Course will be given during the first semester from 20/9 (9-12h30). Lectures will be followed by exercices (room R88, building B18, Geology).

Recommended or required readings

Printed copy available on the campus (copy shop point de vue).

Assessment methods and criteria

Examination will include two parts.
Theory (60 % of final quotation). Individual oral examination (15 minutes + preparation). Comments of figures and/or tables presented during the lectures.
TP Personal work (40 % of quotation). Selection of one selected coring site : description of hydrodynamic, geological origin géologique of the basin, sedimentologie andt stratigraphy, description of 1 paleoceanographic proxy. Oral presentation (15 minutes) with supports and written report (max. 10 pages).

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

Any comment on the syllabus are welcome.

Contacts

Nathalie Fagel Chargée de cours, Geology Departement Research Unit AGEs - Argiles, Géochimie et Environnements sédimentaires - B18, Allée du 6 Août, B-4000 Liège, Belgium Fax: 04.366.2029 Tel: 04.366.2209 www.ages.ulg.ac.be