Semester One, 20 points
Lectures: Tuesday: 10am – 11.50am
Course Lecturer: Professor Sean Fitzsimons – sean.fitzsimons@otago.ac.nz
The focus of this course is on understanding the development of mountains. This focus draws us into analyzing the interactions between tectonic processes that build topography and erosion processes that destroy topography. Our location in the South Island of New Zealand places us in a landscape driven by the interaction between the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates and the intense westerly circulation system. The results of this interaction are a cascade of processes characteristed by rock uplift rates and erosion rates that are amongst the highest on Earth. By the end of this course you will have a detailed knowledge and understanding of these landscape development processes and you will be able to account for why the rates of landscape change are so high.
If you choose to study Alpine Geomorphology at the University of Otago you will undertake a programme of directed reading, a three or four day field school in a mountain landscape, laboratory work on the analysis of data collected in the field, present a seminar to the class and undertake a take-home examination.
During the field school you will learn about how mountain landscape development can be reconstructed from lake sediments, which will involve mapping landforms, coring lake sediments and using geophysical survey equipment. Related laboratory work will introduce you to particle size analysis of fine sediments using a laser diffraction particle size analyser and an elemental analyser to determine the Carbon and Nitrogen composition of the sediments.
Details
Earth surface processes and resultant landforms in high altitude and high latitude areas.
| Paper title | Alpine Geomorphology |
|---|---|
| Paper code | GEOG454 |
| Subject | Geography |
| EFTS | 0.1667 |
| Points | 20 points |
| Teaching period | First Semester |
| Domestic Tuition Fees (NZD) | $1,307.76 |
| International Tuition Fees (NZD) | $5,517.77 |
- Eligibility
The content of this paper assumes that students will have completed an undergraduate degree in Geography, Earth Science or Geology
Please contact Professor Sean Fitzsimons for information on the recommended background for this paper
- Contact
- geography@otago.ac.nz
- More information link
- View further information about GEOG 454
- Teaching staff
- Course Instructor: Professor Sean Fitzsimons
- Paper Structure
Lectures:
- Mountain geomorphology
- Alpine sediment transfer
- Lake sedimentary processes
- Alluvial fans
Field School:
- Mapping landforms
- Environmental monitoring: temperature, precipitation, river stage, sediment tracking and accumulation
- Coring
- Geophysical survey
Seminars:
- A survey of alpine landscape development processes
- Case studies from different mountain systems
This paper is 100% internally assessed
- Teaching Arrangements
One 1:50-minute lecture per week
- Textbooks
- Text books are not required for this paper, but Bierman and Montgomery (2013) Key Concepts in Geomorphology is a useful resource. (Available on close reserve in the Science Library)
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Interdisciplinary perspective, Communication, Teamwork.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
- Understanding of the complex nature of interactions between tectonic and surface processes
- Understanding how mountain development is driven by tectonic and climatic processes
- Knowledge and understanding of the erosion, transportation and deposition processes in an alpine setting
- The ability to reconstruct landscape change using lake sediments
- An advanced ability to integrate field and laboratory evidence of landscape change
