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31600-01 - Internship: Advanced Physical Geography: Experimental Geomorphology (4 CP)
| Semester | fall semester 2012 |
| Course frequency | Irregular |
| Lecturers |
Wolfgang Fister (wolfgang.fister@unibas.ch)
Philip Greenwood (philip.greenwood@unibas.ch) Nikolaus J. Kuhn (nikolaus.kuhn@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | Soil erosion is increasingly seen as a significant process capable of moving substances as part of local, regional and global biogeochemical cycle. However, our understanding of erosion processes, and accordingly, their representation in erosion models, are limited to the assessment of established topics, such as erosion risks and sediment delivery. More specific questions, such as those relating to the movement and fate of organic matter, nutrients and contaminants, largely remain unanswered. To improve our understanding of differential movement of specific soil-related substances caused by erosion, detailed process studies are required. One major current question requiring an improved understanding relates to the resilience of biochar against erosion by water. Biochar is the result of controlled burning of biomass at high temperatures in the absence of oxygen (pyrolysis). Its addition to soils has very recently been championed as a potential way to sequester carbon dioxide and therefore potentially mitigate against the effects of climate change. It is also generally viewed as a beneficial improver of soil quality and crop productivity, especially in tropical soils (e.g. on Terra preta). However, little is known about its behavior in agricultural landscapes, especially with regards to detachment and transport. This course on experimental Geomorphology offers students the opportunity to conduct combined lab and field experiments aimed at measuring and explaining the risks of erosion of biochar. |
| Bibliography | AGASSI, M. [Ed.](1996) : Soil Erosion, Conservation, and Rehabilitation. Marcel Dekker Inc., New York, 204 p. SEEGER, M., QUINTON, J. & KUHN, N.K. [Eds.] (2012): Experiments in Earth surface process research. CATENA 91, special issue: 1-104. |
| Comments | Kontakt: Wolfgang.Fister@unibas.ch |
| Weblink | Physiogeographie und Umweltwandel |
| Course application | via https://www.olat.uzh.ch/olat/url/RepositoryEntry/5402722306 ab Donnerstag, 24. Mai, 20:00 Uhr |
| Language of instruction | German |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|
No dates available. Please contact the lecturer.
| Modules |
Module Geography (Master Geosciences) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | Students will be expected to participate actively in the erosion experiments, and then undertake laboratory analyses of sediment samples, interpret the subsequent data, and prepare a final group report of ten to 15 pages (ca. 3,000 words), including a review of the available literature. |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: teaching staff |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | 1-6 0,5 |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Science, studiendekanat-philnat@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Geowissenschaften |