Exogen geology
Course information
Title of the course:
Exogen geology
Responsible for teaching:
Other teachers:
Dr. Pál Sümegi
Dr. Gergő Persaits
Type of course:
professional course
Description
Prerequisites:
Geochemistry, Physical geography, Introduction to geology, Hydrogeography and hydrology, Pedology
Brief description of the lecture:
The aim of the course is to present, through a material-based approach, the complex system of the Earth’s surface and the near-surface geospheres that determines the landscape evolution. The course pays special attention to the interactions between weathering, biogeochemical processes and the processes occurring in the pedosphere.
Landscape evolution: relation between geological, geophysical processes and geomorphological landforms. Relation between exogenous and endogenous force in landscape evolution, structural morphology. The role of time in landscape evolution, geological time, paleoforms, the relation of inherited landscape forms and sedimentary rocks. The role of mineral and rock structure in landscape evolution. The role of the chemical and physical weathering in the landscape evolution, element dynamics of the pH dependent weathering and its role in the landscape evolution, weathering forms. Relation between the sedimentary environments and landscape evolution. Climate, vegetation and landscape evolution. Köppen’s, Strahov’s and Büdel’s climate morphology models and maps. Relation between the material dynamics in Büdel’s climate morphology zones and the landscape evolution. Climate changes and the changing landscape evolution processes. Landscape evolution in sea environments. Continental landscape evolution. Characteristics of the landscape evolution in the Precambrian, Palaeozoic and Mesozoic. Characteristics of the landscape evolution in Tertiary and Quaternary. Human impact on landscape evolution. Relation between ancient and historic cultures and landscape evolution. Relation between environmentalism and landscape evolution.
Biogeochemical cycles: natural biochemical cycles of elements, their movements between the geospheres (atmospehere, hydrosphere, litosphere), and the environmental effects of these processes. The effects of anthropogenic intervention. Biological, chemical and physical features. Interactions between the biochemical cycles of certain elements.
Biogeochemical cycle of carbon. Global carbon resources. Appearance, quantity, retention time. The flux of carbon between the main reservoirs. Formation of organic compounds from inorganic compounds, the photosynthesis. The degradation of biomass, aerobic and anaerobic oxidation. Anthropogenic influences, the consequences of the use of fossil fuels.
Biogeochemical cycle of nitrogen. Global nitrogen resources, quantity, retention time. The reactions of nitrogen compounds in different geospheres, biological transformation, abiotic reactions. The NOx cycle and its effects on atmospheric redox processes. The N2O and its environmental effects. The anthropogenic flux and its effects: the photochemical smog, the effect of dinitrogen oxide on the ozone layer.
Biogeochemical cycle of sulphur. Sulphur compounds in the geospheres. The main reservoirs, quantity, appearance. The biological cycle of sulphur. Sources of sulphur, its distribution and transformation in the atmosphere. The cycle of sulphur in the hydrosphere, oceanic input and output. The effects of anthropogenic intervention.
Biogeochemical cycle of phosphorus. Global phosphorus resources, quantity, flux, retention time. Continental and aquatic phosphorus cycle. Changes of phosphorus content in sedimentary rocks during geological ages. Perturbations.
Biogeochemical cycle of oxygen. Global oxygen sources of the Earth. The transformation of the anoxic paleo atmosphere to its oxidiser state, the evolution of the present composition of atmosphere. The oxygen balance of the atmosphere, oxygen sources and consumers, anthropogenic influences.
Biogeochemical cycle of metals. Mobilisation of metals, biological and geochemical processes, redox reactions. Anthropogenic influences, geoaccumulation index, atmospheric enrichment coefficient. Detailed discussion based on some selected elements.
Laboratory practice:
Landscape evolution, tectonic geomorphology, Mapping and 3D modelling of the landscape evolution. Applied projection of the landscape evolution: environmentalist landscape evolution, anthropogenic landscape morphology. The protection and rehabilitation of landforms. Relations between environmental protection and landscape evolution. Mapping landscape evolution hazards. Landscape evolution aspects of environmental management maps.
Recommended readings:
- Gábris Gy. Földfelszín és éghajlat. A felszínalaktan összegzése, Eötvös Kiadó, Budapest, 2007
- Barótfi I. (szerk.) (2000): Környezettechnika Mezőgazda Kiadó, Budapest.
- Lóczy D. (2002): Tájértékelés, földértékelés. Dialóg Campus Kiadó, Budapest
- Lóczy D.-Veress M. Geomorfológia I. Dialóg Campus Kiadó, Budapest, 2004
- Lóczy D. szerk. Geomorfológia II. Dialóg Campus Kiadó, Budapest, 2008
- Andrews, J.E. et al., 2000. An Introduction to Environmental Science. Blackwell Science.
- Butcher, S.S. et al., 1992. Global Biogeochemical Cycles. Academic Press.
- Mészáros E., 2001. A környezettudomány alapjai. Akadémiai Kiadó.
- Papp S., 2007. Biogeokémia. Körfolyamatok a természetben. Pannon Egyetemi Kiadó.
- Sarkar, D., Datta, R., Hannigan, R., 2007. Concepts and Applications in Environmental Geochemistry. Elsevier.
