Methods used in physical geography and quaternary geology are constantly developing, and new technology is providing better and more advanced tools for studying geomorphic processes and sediments on the Earth's surface. The objectives of this course are to introduce different methods used for conducting research projects in physical geography and quaternary geology, and to enable students to meet the practical challenges associated with field- and/or laboratory-based research.
The course will introduce different methods for studying landforms and sedimentary deposits (quaternary geological mapping, drone photogrammetry, ground penetrating radar, LiDAR, echo sounder, CHIRP etc.) and demonstrate how geological samples are collected in the field (sediment cores, soil samples etc.). Samples collected in the field will subsequently be analysed in the sediment laboratory using key methods (magnetic-, geochemical-, and physical sediment parameters, etc.) to characterise sediments deposited by different geomorphological agents. The students will also get an introduction to processing and visualisation of geographical information and geophysical data collected during field work (ground penetrating radar data, drone photographs, bathymetric data, map data, etc.). Some key statistical methods and visualisation of quantitative data will also be covered. Software used in the course includes ArcGIS Pro, RadExplorer, R, PiX4D, and Excel.
On completion of the course, the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:
Knowledge
The student:
Skills
The student:
General competence
The student:
Reflection note, group presentation, poster presentation, and participation in seminars, field exercises and laboratory work.
Compulsory requirements can only be taken once and are valid from the semester they have been completed and accepted.
Portfolio assessment of:
Both parts of the portfolio must be accepted in the same semester.