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Advanced Field Techniques (Level 6)

Overview

  • Credit value: 30 credits at Level 6
  • Convenor: Prof Charles Underwood
  • Assessment: 3-6 field exercises (60%) and an illustrated field report (40%)

Module description

In this module you will gain experience of techniques involved in geological and geographical fieldwork. Performance in the field (accuracy of observations and records) and quality of interpretation are assessed during and immediately following each 10-14-day Easter field class by the field class leader in consultation with demonstrators (if any).

You will need a hard hat, hand lens, field notebooks, compass, clinometer, pencils, mapping pens, tape measure and geological hammers.

Indicative syllabus

For all students

  • Observation of desert aeolian and fluvial processes, and geometry of aeolian sand bodies
  • Skills of working in montaine, desert and other arid environments
  • Study of the relationship between underlying geology and topography, soils and land use

For geology students

  • Morphology, geometry, mineralogy and textures of intra-crustal basaltic volcanics
  • Transect of a narrow sedimentary basin, focusing on facies changes within the Early Jurassic relative to basin position
  • Basin inversion and tectonics
  • Advanced sedimentary logging of carbonates on large and small scale
  • Recording of 3d sedimentological features
  • Marine and non-marine palaeoecology and facies analysis
  • Modern desert and montaine sedimentary and ecological environments
  • Production of a synthesis of field data incorporating direct observations, remote data and literature

For geography students

  • Topographic mapping of volcanic, fluvial and aeolian features
  • Study of montaine weathering, erosion and deposition
  • Observation of impact of deforestation and overgrazing, and recovery projects
  • Study of water supply, water use and water storage in mountainous areas
  • Study of agricultural land use in areas of different water supply, soils and topography
  • Observation of desert aeolian and fluvial processes, and geometry of aeolian sand bodies
  • Study of land use and utilisation of fossils and mineral resources
  • Study of soils and ecology in Mediterranean, mountain, riverine and desert environments
  • Observation of biogeography of plants and animals and impact of invasive plants on hydrology and ground stability

Learning objectives

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

  • demonstrate field study experience of a wide diversity of geological/geographical phenomena, including globally famous sites with complex geological histories
  • combine observations of field geology/geography to synthesise historical and spatial relationships
  • demonstrate familiarity with a range of new field techniques required for the study of the features seen
  • demonstrate knowledge of geological/geographical processes, past and present
  • demonstrate knowledge of human geology/geography, and exploitation of geological/geographical resources
  • construct a thesis summarising field data and combine this with published information; includes experience in scientific writing, graphics and presentation.