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| Semester | fall semester 2014 |
| Course frequency | Every 3rd semester |
| Lecturers | Jens Leifeld (jens.leifeld@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | The functioning of soils in the global carbon cycle and effects induced by changes in climate, land-use, and land management are introduced. Priority will be given to global pools and fluxes of soil carbon and how they are altered as well as to biological, chemical, physical and anthropogenic factors which drive input and turnover rates and stabilization of organic matter in soils. Selected analytical methods to assess pools, fluxes, and composition of soil organic matter will be presented as well as an introduction to basic turnover models that are used to describe C-dynamics. Finally, the question of the most important human-induced environmental changes in organic matter cycling in soil (e.g., fertilization, fire, drainage, tillage) and major unknowns of soil C storage will be discussed. |
| Learning objectives | You comprehend major drivers and processes related to soil as a carbon reservoir and understand basic experimental and analytical tools used to describe carbon cycling and structure in soil. You are qualified to analyse scientific reports and put them into context, present them in a nutshell, and discuss them critically. |
| Bibliography | http://www.ipcc.ch<http://www.ipcc.ch/>; Special report on land-use, land-use change, and forestry; IPCC 2000; 377 pp. Canadell, JG. et al. 2007. Saturation of the terrestrial carbon sink. In: Canadell JG, Pataki D, Pitelka L (eds): Terrestrial ecosystems in a changing world. The IGBP Series, Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg, pp. 59-78. Janzen, HH. 2004. Carbon cycling in earth systems - a soil science perspective. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 104, 399-417. Trumbore, SE. and Czimczik, CI. 2008. An uncertain future for soil carbon. Science 321, 1455-1456. Schmidt MWI et al. (2011). Persistence of soil organic matter as an ecosystem property. Nature 478, 49-56. http://www.globalcarbonproject.org/ |
| Comments | Die Aufteilung der Themen erfolgt in der ersten Vorlesungsstunde. Unterrichtssprache deutsch, Materialien englisch. The class will be taught in English if non German speaking students are present. |
| Weblink | umweltgeo.unibas.ch |
| Admission requirements | Masterstudierende der Umwelt(geo)wissenschaften; Grundlagen der Bodenkunde werden vorausgesetzt, Gäste willkommen |
| Language of instruction | German |
| Use of digital media | Online, optional |
| Course auditors welcome |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|
No dates available. Please contact the lecturer.
| Modules |
Module Environmental Geosciences (Master Geosciences) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | At two dates students present and discuss selected topics based on published scientific papers, preferably supported by a PowerPoint presentation. The report must be summarized and distributed as a handout. To gain credit points requires (1) regular presence at the sessions, (2) active participation during the discussion and (3) pass of the oral presentation and the handout. Details are given in the first session. The seminar is designed for students in Environmental (Geo)sciences at MSc level. |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: teaching staff |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Science, studiendekanat-philnat@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Geowissenschaften |