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Limnogeology
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:29:08
Abstract
This course links lakes, their subsurface and their environment. It will be shown how lake sediments record past environmental changes (e.g. climate, human impact, natural hazards) and how lake sediments can be used to reconstruct these changes. Emphasis is also given on the modern limnologic processes essential in interpreting the fossil record. With 1 or 2-day field course on Lake Lucerne.
Objective
- Understanding the role of lake sediments as archives of environmental change. - Being able to plan an own limnogeologic campaign, i.e. finding, recovering, analyzing and interpreting the sedimentary lake archive to solve a particular scientific question. - Understanding the complexity of a lake system with all its connection to the environment. - Being able to link subaerial processes with subaquatic processes. - Undertstanding the role of lakes as archives and partly amplifier of natural hazards. - Understanding lakes as an evolving element within a larger environmental system.
Content
Content of the course: Introduction - Lakes, the small oceans History of Limnogeology. Limnogeologic campaigns Large open perialpine lakes. The water column: Aquatic physics (currents, waves, oscillations, etc.). Sediments caught in the water: sediment traps Laminations in lake sediments: Clastic vs. biochemical varves. Hydrologically closed lake systems Chronostratigraphic dating of lake sediments Lake sediments as proxies for climate change Lake sediments as recorder of anthropogenic impact The class includes a 1- or 2-day field practica on Lake Lucerne. Introduction to themes of Lake Lucerne field course. Limnogeological methods on the lake and in the laboratory: various sampling and surveying techniques (water analysis, seismic surveying, sediment coring, laboratory analyses). Fieldcourse follow-up: Seismic-core correlation and interpretation
Resources
Lecture Notes
Will be distributed in each class unit.
Literature
Will be distributed in each class unit.
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- BSC , MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- end-of-semester examination
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture with exercise | Limnogeology |
|
2 h weekly |
Offered In
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Major in Geology (Advisor of the major in Geology is Prof. W. Winkler)
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Major in Geology: Electives (From the points of credit offered in the spring and autumn semester, 8 credits must be acquired. Primarily mandatory courses from other Earth Science BSc-majors should be selected. Other elective courses from the offer of ETH and UZH are possible, however must be granted by the advisor of geology (Professor W. Winkler).)
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Major in Climate and Water: Electives (Advisor of the BSc-major "Climate and Water" is Dr. M. Wüest, Institute for climate and atmosphere (IAC).)
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Major Electives (From the elective courses of the 5th and 6th semester, 24 credits have to be acquired. Other courses have to be granted by the advisor, Dr. M. Wüest, IAC.)
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