COMPARATIVE PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENTS

Single discipline educational activity

Course Sheet

Course code:

GE234

Academic Year of enrolment:

2020

Year of supply:

2020/2021

Type of Course:

Characterising

Degree:

Course of 2nd Cycle Degree in GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGIES OF EARTH AND PLANETS

Disciplinary Sector:

Stratigraphic and Sedimentological Geology

Location:

PESCARA

Credits:

Programme Year:

Professor and Collaborators:

ORI Gian Gabriele

Cycle:

First semester

Hours of classroom activity:

Individual study hours:

Prerequisites:

Basic knowledge of sedimentology and stratigraphy.

Objectives

The course will provide the capability of observing, describing and interpreting the different sedimentary environments in the Satellites and Planets where the presence of an atmosphere allows surface exogenic processes. The Solar System exhibits a huge variability in terms external processes and the student will be able to understand the variables controlling the sedimentation patterns. The acquired knowledge will provide the student with scientific capabilities, but will contribute to play a role in the planning of planetary surface missions and in controlling surface operations.

Contents

Sedimentary environments on Earth, Mars and Titan. Comparative analysis of sedimentary facie, and processes in the Solar Systems bodies with atmospheres. The comparative analysis will show the differences in sedimentary processes and environments due to differences in planetary density and gravity, in atmosphere and liquid composition. Other bodies will be also briefly addressed for peculiar characteristics like Venus and Moon. The astrobiological potential of the bodies will be discussed as well.

Extended Syllabus

Processes of sedimentation: clastic, chemical, biochemical on Earth, Mars and Titan.
Process of sedimentation in other planetary bodies
Sedimentary environments on Earth, Mars and Titan with special attention to continental (alluvial, lacustrine), coastal and deltaic settings.
Sedimentary rocks and the rock record in different planetary bodies: the realms of subsidence, basins and the source to sink approach in absence of plate tectonics.
Erosional rates in different geological settings: continuity and discontinuities in the geological records. The problem of sedimentary unit preservation.
Biological content in rocks. Astrobiological potential in sediments and sedimentary rocks. The search for life and paleo-life on Mars.
Landing sites of robotic missions. Human and robotic operation on Mars and Moon.
Mechanical sedimentary processes, sedimentary environments: aeolian, fluvial, glacial, coastal, deltaic.
Biological-induced sedimentation.
Comparison between sedimentary environments and processes on Earth, Mars and Titan. Fluvial-like channels on Venus.Aolian sedimentation in the Solar System.
Atlas of depositonal features and geological structures on Earth, Mars and Titan.
Every other year: a field trip in Spain (Ebro basin) for fluvial deposits and a field trip in Greece (Northern Peloponnesus) for deltaic deposits.

Recommended Bibliography

Facies Models 4
edited by Noel P. James and Robert W Dalrymple, 2010, GEOtext 6, Geological Association of Canada.

Lakes on Mars, Edited by Nathalie A. Cabrol and Edmond Grin, 2010 Elsevier.

Geomorphology of Desert environments, Edited by Anthony J. Parson and Athol D. Abrahms, Second Edition, 1994, Elsevier

Teaching Methods

The course will consist of a mix of theoretical classes and practical training. The former mode will deal with the explanation of concepts and methods involved in the analysis of sedimentary environments, their processes and this variability in the Solar Systems. The latter mode will consists of a practical approach where the students will be able to learn through experiencing the work on real cases both in lab and the field.

Evaluation methods

Verification of learning:

The assessment of the quality of learning is based on several activities. First of all, a first verification will be carried on by a number of intermediate tests (value 10%). The student will have to submit an essay on a subject agreed with the teacher. The essay must be exhaustive and detailed with images and table (value 50%). In addition to the essay, the student must provide a detailed report on the field work (value40%). The report must contain data collected in the field and remote sending data from the study area. Data should be interpreted and discussed. This activity is individual.

Università degli Studi
"G. d'Annunzio"

Chieti - Pescara

Aree