Universität Wien

280232 VU PS4 Terrestrial Systems (VU) (2021S)

5.00 ECTS (4.00 SWS), SPL 28 - Erdwissenschaften, Meteorologie - Geophysik und
Continuous assessment of course work

Please note that in addition to the regular dates of the lectures, a three day excursion will take place from 9.06 - 11.06.2017. Further dates for paper discussions will be announced shortly.
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 20 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

The lectures will be held digitally (online via Big Blue Button, pre-recorded lectures or similar in Moodle) ever Thursday from 13.15 -14.45 hours.
Please note that in addition an excursion will take place June 4-6, 2021.
Examination date: June 24, 2021

  • Thursday 04.03. 13:15 - 15:45 Digital
  • Thursday 11.03. 13:15 - 15:45 Digital
  • Thursday 18.03. 13:15 - 15:45 Digital
  • Thursday 25.03. 13:15 - 15:45 Digital
  • Thursday 15.04. 13:15 - 15:45 Digital
  • Thursday 22.04. 13:15 - 15:45 Digital
  • Thursday 29.04. 13:15 - 15:45 Digital
  • Thursday 06.05. 13:15 - 15:45 Digital
  • Thursday 20.05. 13:15 - 15:45 Digital
  • Thursday 27.05. 13:15 - 15:45 Digital
  • Thursday 10.06. 13:15 - 15:45 Digital
  • Thursday 17.06. 13:15 - 15:45 Digital
  • Thursday 24.06. 13:15 - 15:45 Digital

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Aims and content: Students can describe and discuss (1) the multiple functional dependencies in terrestrial systems (2) the genesis and properties of common soil types (3) fundamentals in geoecology, geomorphology and quarternary science. They are able to describe and interpret the complex interdependencies of soil formation, chemical and physical soil properties, nutrient cycles, ecosystem state factors, and terrestrial biota and food webs. Graduates are able to summarize the organic and inorganic composition of soils and can describe important chemical processes that influence the behavior of nutrients and pollutants. They recognize the function of soils in global element cycles and are able to critically analyze important environmental problems, such as soil contamination and erosion.
On April 8 2020, we learned that the excursion cannot take place. Aware of the fact that learning outside together was the explicit aim of this part of Terrestrial Systems, it is hard to replace it by more desk work. But the lecture alone cannot fill the workload required for this course. So you will be supplied asked to prepare a small essay on peatland types instead of the excursion. Details will be posted on moodle. I am truly sorry about this! Stephan Glatzel
Methods: lectures

Assessment and permitted materials

Written exam (67%) and preparation of a small essay (33%)

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Passded written exam and preparation of a small essay

Examination topics

Presentation slides,basic literature and contents supplied for the essay

Reading list

Basic literature:

Blume et al., (eds).(2016): Scheffer/Schachtschabel: Soil Science. Springer, Berlin.

Chapin, Matson, Vitousek, (eds) (2011): Principles of Terrestrial Ecosystem Ecology 2nd edition, Springer, Berlin

Candell J.G., Pataki D., Pitelka L.F. (eds.) (2007): Terrestrial Ecosystems in a Changing Worls. – Springer, Berlin.

Gange A.C. & Brown V.K. (eds.) (2009): Multitrophic Interactions in Terrestrial Systems. - 36th Symposium of the British Ecological Society.

Goudie, A. (2013): The human impact on the natural environment: past, present and future. Wiley- Blackwell.

Huggett J.H. (2003): Fundamentals of Geomorphology. Routlegde, London.

Keller, E.A. (2012): Introduction to Environmental Geology. Pearson Prentice Hall, New Jersey.

Phillips Jonathan D. (1999): Earth Surface Systems – Complexity, Order and Scale, Blackwell Publishers Inc., Oxford.

Slaymaker O. et al. (2009): Geomorphology and Global Environmenatl Change. Cambridge University Press.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Fr 12.05.2023 00:22