Vår 2018

GEO-3136 Practical geochronological methods - 10 stp

The course is administrated by

Institutt for geovitenskap

Type of course

This course is available as a single course. The course is recommended for students in Marine Geology and Geophysics, Sedimentology, Geohazards and Quaternary Geology.

Course contents

Within the scope of this course, students will get applied training in key geochronological methods to solve challenges for own studies with terrestrial and marine archives.

The course takes advantage of easy access from UiT to geohazards, glacial landscapes, and fjord sites around Tromsø. Students ability to choose sample locations, analyse and interpret geochronological data is the key to understand past interactions between the geohazards, Earth system and climate change. The course starts with theoretical background and physical principles of key geochronological methods and fieldwork will provide hands-on experience in sampling strategies and techniques.

Key methods that will be discussed are radiocarbon dating, optically stimulated luminescence dating, cosmogenic nuclide dating, and tephrochronology. Lectures, seminars and exercises will alternate to provide background information for current challenges and avenues of dating methods in high latitude environments and in geohazard studies.

With laboratory exercises and data analyses, students will focus on practical challenges of the dating techniques, like building age-depth models and evaluation of uncertainties. In seminars, student groups will critically assess published case studies with regard to age constraints, interpretations and related challenges.

Application deadline

Applicants from Nordic countries: 1 December for the spring semester. Exchange students and Fulbright students: 1 October for the spring semester.

Admission requirements

Bachelor's degree in geology or a similar degree following a programme of study of at least three years duration, or similar education approved in accordance with the Norwegian Universities Act section 3-4. In addition, specialization in geology worth the equivalent of at least 80 ECTS credits is required. Normally, an average mark of C or better is required at the bachelor's degree level or other programme for basis of admission. Application code: 9371.

Objective of the course

Knowledge

Upon completing the course, the students will:

Have a comprehensive understanding of geochronological dating methods: radiocarbon, optically stimulated luminescence dating, cosmogenic nuclide dating, tephrochronology
Be able to plan a sampling strategy for a marine or terrestrial research question in the field
Have a good knowledge of inherited problems, challenges and potentials of the geochronological methods
Be able to critically analyse and graphically present geochronological data in the light of a given research question
Demonstrate advanced knowledge of and ability to explain different age-depth models and their (dis-)advantages, compare them and place these into a large-scale context
Formulate the potential and limitation of each method and data sources
Analyse information from databases, primary research articles and scientific reports

Skills

Upon completing the course, the students can:

Create a number of standard statistical procedures and to analyse, to report and to discuss the results of data experiments
Compose data with Excel, Past, Matlab or comparable software
Build calibrated radiocarbon age-depth models with OxCal/Calib, Bacon
Calculate luminescence and cosmogenic nuclide dating results
Identify crypto-/tephra layers and their potential age
Examine internet and databases as a resource for scientific information
Work in groups to solve problems related to geochronology and own studies
Report findings and to formulate scholarly arguments when delivering oral/poster presentations, reporting scientific finds and presenting data

Competence

Upon completing the course, the students will be able to:

Master the most important elements of geological research projects: penetrating literature, carrying out field research, analysing data and communicating results to fellow students/scientists
Critically evaluate and judge the quality of data and conclusions presented in primary databases, research articles and scientific reports
Critically evaluate and judge the quality of data and conclusions obtained and presented in the group projects
Write a research project on a given topic by presenting and justifying own results in the light of published studies
Have independent as well as team-work skills

Language of instruction

English.

Teaching methods

Teaching The course will be given as a block course over two weeks with 16 hours lectures, 8 hours seminar, 16 hours exercises and 4 hours laboratory work. There is also a field excursion of two days.

Compulsory learning activities Active participation in seminars, lab exercises and fieldwork. All compulsory educational activities must be approved in order to get the final assessment.

Assessment

Method- Percentage of final grade.

Poster presentation of data analysis- 25%: Master students in groups of two.

Report including poster/oral presentation- 75%: Master students in groups of two present a poster and their report focussing on methodological uncertainties and discussion of own data analysis.

All assessments must be passed in order to pass the course.