Marine Geology and Paleoclimatology

URL study guide

https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/AM_450330

Course Objective

Marine sediments provide valuable information on past changes in climate
- and ocean circulation. The course Marine Geology and Palaeoclimatology aims to provide insight into the processes and mechanisms which have ultimately resulted in the present day distribution of various types of marine deposits. In this course you will learn how modern and past change in environmental, ocean and climate conditions are recorded in marine environments and how marine deposits vary
- in geographic distribution, shape and composition
- as a function of environmental and paleoclimate changes at millennial to Milankovitch scales. At the end of this course, the student will: 1\. have state-of-the-art knowledge on marine sampling techniques and various types of marine deposits and records; 2\. be able to interpret and understand various types of marine paleoclimate proxy data and time-series; 3\. be able to critically evaluate and present scientific literature related to the field of paleo-oceanography and paleoclimatology, including links to ice-core records. Teachers: Dr. Frank Peeters and Dr. Jan-Berend Stuut & guest lectures researchers.

Course Content

We will start the course with an excursion to the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research on Texel. Various lectures and practical exercises will deal with with sedimentology, geochemistry and stratigraphy of predominantly Quaternary marine deposits. The focus is on those processes relevant for understanding how climate/environmental change is recorded in the different paleoclimate archives. The course targets seasonal to Milankovitch climate archive studies, including the climate phenomena and processes that act on such time scales.

Teaching Methods

Lectures and guest-lectures, paper presentation, literature study, in-class assignments, group discussions, excursion to the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research.

Method of Assessment

A marine research proposal will comprise 80% of the final grade and the remaining 20% will be based upon a research article presentation. There is no written exam for this course.

Literature

Lecture notes, selected research papers and or book chapters.

Target Audience

This course is embedded in the VU MSc Earth Sciences program and intended for VU Earth Sciences MSc students. The course, however, is open to other master students with basic background in the earth
- and or marine sciences. For further information please contact the coordinator Dr. Frank Peeters ([email protected]).

Entry Requirements

Although there are no entry requirements for this master course (level 400), some basic understanding of earth sciences is an added value. In case of doubt or questions contact the coordinator (Dr Frank Peeters, [email protected])

Recommended background knowledge

There are no entry requirements for this course.

Explanation Canvas

Course material, announcements etc will be made available via de VU Canvas course website.