Earth surface processes

Duration

20h Th, 20h Pr

Number of credits

Lecturer

Aurelia Hubert

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The course comprises 4 parts.
Part 1 is a general introduction to the different earth components: the lithosphere (composition, type, physical properties, earthquakes, isostatic rebound, plate tectonics), the atmosphere (composition, vertical structures, characteristics, radiation pattern, green house gas effect, energy transport with climate, wind and atmospheric circulation, geological context of climate changes), the Hydrosphere (water properties, composition, chemistry, oceans, physical properties), the biosphere. 
Part 2 focuses on the Earth Surface State (Rock or unconsolidated sediments) with 4 chapters. First one focuses on generalities about the earth surface (definition of weathering/erosion, denudation), the second chapter focuses on the weathering of rocks and soil production (definition of regolith, mechanical weathering and stress concentration, chemical weathering and the concentration of chemical elements in water, the role of water, temperature, CO2, Soil, and soil formation, soil zonation with climate and evolution with time. Long-term weathering and the carbon cycle), the third one on the consequences of weathering (physical properties of the weathered profile, consequences of physical weathering), the fourth one on the properties of the earth surface (rheology of rock, soil, weak sediments, time dependent behavior, strength).
Part 3 is about Water action at the earth surfaces (drainage basins, water balance, groundwater, vadose zone, soil moisture, hydraulic conductivity, Darcy law, infiltration, overland flow, runoff).
Part 4 deals with the 2 components of the earth surface: slopes and rivers. Chapter 1 about hillslopes ( 1) evidences the difference between rock slope and slope covered by a soil that has different mechanical properties, (2) focuses on soil covered slope and how it can be modeled using the diffusion equation based on the conservation of the mass, on diffusive hillslopes, rainsplash modeling, (3) includes on a practical exercise about lake scarps. Chapter 2 about river focuses on (1) transition between slope and river, (2) bedrock river channels and mechanical models (stream power model), (3) alluvial rivers (water balance, process response model, modeling based on the mass conservation), (4) alluvial fans

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

- A general understanding of the earth surface and its properties that is necessary for the other courses
- Means of equation (so-called 'modelling') of some earth surface processes using the diffusion equation
- Learning how to enhance personal scientific knowledge based on individual work and communicating it to his peers.
 

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Podcasts about the basic of earth surface processes
Knowledge enhancement  by student using reference books and publication on each part of the course.
Practical manipulation on Excell for the equation of the diffusion

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

Virtual teaching (podcast) with feed-back, reverse teaching from students based on complementary reading 

Recommended or required readings

Podcast about basics on eCampus
 
Anderson, R. S., & Anderson, S. P. (2010). Geomorphology: the mechanics and chemistry of landscapes. Cambridge University Press.

Assessment methods and criteria

Evaluation:
Every student will have to do 4 individual présentations on the different part of the courses that he individually worked on to enhance his knowledge.  Every presentation would represent 25% of the evaluation. A grid of evaluation is provided to the student.

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

Contacts

aurelia.ferrari@uliege.be

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