Reconstructing Quaternary Environments (2025/2026: Periode 3)

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Cursusdoel

Please note: the information in the course manual is binding.
  • to provide a sound understanding of how Quaternary climate and terrestrial environmental change can be examined;
  • to provide practical skills in the collection, identification and analysis of evidence for Quaternary terrestrial environmental change;
  • to discuss specific topics and communicate knowledge, understanding and skills to others.

Vakinhoudelijk

Lecture topics (12):
  • Introduction
  • Palaeorecords of environmental change
  • Geomorphological evidence
  • Site selection and sampling strategies
  • Lithological evidence
  • Botanical evidence
  • Faunal evidence
  • Dendrochronology
  • C-14 dating and annual layering
  • Luminescence and other dating techniques
  • Stratigraphic correlation
  • Environmental and climate reconstructions
  • Integration of Ice-core, Marine and Terrestrial records.
Note: all ppt files will be made available on Brightspace.

Several transferable skills will be trained during the course practicals, seminars, and excursion.


Practicals:
  • Analytical, technical, and team-work skills are trained in the Microscope Labs on: pollen; core description.
  • Problem solving skills are trained in Computer labs: data analysis; C-14 calibration and wiggle-matching.
  • Written communication skills are trained: scientific jounals analysis; article writing and evaluation of research proposals, short reports.

Excursion: Analytical and team-work skills are trained during a lithological description and interpretation of a ca 50m long core from the shallow sub-soil of The Netherlands at Geological survey of the Netherlands.

Seminar presentation: training in verbal communication skills during short (15 minutes) individual presentation and discussion of recent scientific papers on different topics: Proxies; Dating and correlation; Events.

Werkvormen

Computer practicals

Lectures

Practicals
Bijdrage

Based on the microscope practicals, all pollen data from a selected core location will be compiled into a pollen diagram which has to be constructed and interpreted.

Seminar

Toetsing

Eindresultaat

Verplicht | Weging 1% | ECTS 7,5

Assessment: written examination (70%), practical and seminar presentation (15% each). The assessment of the presentation is based on presentation skills, contents, and scientific approach, sub-divided in the following topics: • Skills: Presentation; Visualisation; Language. • Contents: Structure; Clarity; Correctness. • Scientific Approach: Critical attitude; • Participation in discussions; Scientific context.

Ingangseisen en voorkennis

Ingangseisen

Je moet een geldige toelatingsbeschikking hebben

Voorkennis

The course forms part of the MSc program Earth, Life and Climate or Earth, Surface and Water. In particular, the course is meant for students following the tracks Integrated stratigraphy and sedimentary systems or Climate Reconstruction, with a focus on continental records. Prerequisite knowledge: Bachelor Earth Sciences. Courses such as Geomorphology (GEO2-1232), Paleo-ecology (GEO3-1358), or Delta evolution and subsurface (GEO3-1340).

Voorkennis kan worden opgedaan met

Some knowledge on quaternary climate change in terrestrial environments is recommended.

Voertalen

  • Engels

Cursusmomenten

Gerelateerde studies

Tentamens

Er is geen tentamenrooster beschikbaar voor deze cursus

Verplicht materiaal

  • LITERATUUR
    Course text: Lowe and Walker, 2015: Reconstructing Quaternary Environments (indication ca. 50,- euro) (paperback edition).
    ISBN: 9780131274686
  • ARTIKELEN
    Recent journal articles for the seminar presentations: to be determined during the course.

Aanbevolen materiaal

Er is geen informatie over de aanbevolen literatuur bekend

Coördinator

dr. W.Z. Hoek W.Z.Hoek@uu.nl

Docenten

dr. T. Giesecke t.giesecke@uu.nl
dr. W.Z. Hoek W.Z.Hoek@uu.nl

Inschrijving

Deze cursus is open voor bijvakkers. Controleer wel of er aanvullende ingangseisen gelden.

Inschrijving
Van maandag 3 november 2025 tot en met vrijdag 21 november 2025

Na-inschrijving
Van maandag 19 januari 2026 tot en met dinsdag 20 januari 2026

Inschrijving niet geopend
Permanente link naar de cursuspagina
Laat in de Cursus-Catalogus zien
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