Climatic geomorphology, Part A

Duration

20h Th, 10h Pr, 4d FW

Number of credits

Lecturer

Aurelia Hubert

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

Partim A: The course focuses on processes and associated landforms in the glacial and periglacial environments. It stresses the impact of Global warming on the 2 different environments.
For the glacial part, we focus on different glacial environments (Antartica, Greenland) and mountain glaciers 2) Mass balance, ice flow, dynamics, ...3) mountain glaciers dynamics, network and associated geomorphology. The sensitivity of the system to global warming is discussed as well as the glacial geomorphology inherited from the Last Glacial Maximum. 
For the periglacial part, we focus on defining 1) what is a periglacial zone and 2) the permafrost, 3) what are the consequences of thawing permafrost in relation with global, 3) ice, 5-6) specificities: mass transport, cryoturbation, rivers ...
The course is divided into 3 parts: a formal course, practical exercise, and fieldwork.
The fieldwork is focusing mainly on the inherited glacial geomorphology of the Vosges Mountains in France. The practical exercises are exploiting the fieldwork, and focuses on the sedimentary section in a glacial deposit acquired in the field and on evidencing glacial geomorphology in a Digital Elevation Model using ArcGIS.

 

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

The objective of the lectures is to give an overall background of the processes and associated morphologies of the different climate zones; this is the clue to interpret past landforms and climates, which differ from the present ones.
Lectures provide the necessary knowledge for in-depth understanding and discussion about the impact of Global warming.
Practical exercises provide a basis for consolidating the geomorphological mapping achievements and for further progress in the use of digital topography and the ArcGIS software commonly used in physical geography.   Finally fieldwork in the Vosges Mountain will allow the student to have a practical training.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Basics in geology and geomorphology

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Lectures are part of the proposed course. A powerpoint file is provided to the students on Ecampus.
The course is completed by practical training during a field trip in the Vosges Mountains, and by practical exercises using the field trip.
 

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

The lectures last 3 hours and practical exercises 3 hours during the first part of the year.
It is mandatory to come to the practical exercises and to the field trip.
Practical exercises are evaluated.

Organisational adjustments related to the current health context

The following adjustments are foreseen.
The course will be done virtually with podcasts and Lifesize sessions will be organized for feed-back and questions.
A personal work based on presentations of papers will be requested and quoted (30% of the final note). Practical exercises will still represent 35% of the final note and oral exam 35%.

Recommended or required readings

Ø PowerPoint Files of the lectures are available on eCampus
Ø Other documents that can be made available
o Lectures Notes of Mr. E. Juvigné en Glacial Geomorphology.
Ø Reference Book :
o Geomorphology- The Mechanism and Chemistry of Landscapes. Robert S. Anderson & Suzanne P. Anderson. Cambridge University Press. Available at the University Librairy.

Assessment methods and criteria

Below you will find information on the evaluation methods planned for in-person and remote exams as well as those planned for hybrid sessions. Depending on how the health crisis evolves, the chosen method will be communicated to you no later than one month before the start of the exam session.

Evaluation will be discussed at the beginning of the year with the students.
 The following allocation will be proposed:
Ø 65%: based on a writing exam;
 Ø if underperforming, oral exam during the second examination; but practical exercises need to be completed
 Ø 35%: based on practical exercises;


 

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

No remarks

Contacts

Aurélia Hubert-Ferrari
tél. 04/366 93 95
email : aurelia.ferrari@uliege.be

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