Landscape Degradation

Course manual 2024/2025

Course content

This is an advanced course for master students earth sciences. Erosion is a natural process that acts in most landscapes generating and (re-)distributing sediment and nutrients. However, our modern land practices have significantly altered erosion processes, and can lead to loss of soils, and landscape degradation. As a society, we need to achieve a sustainable use of soils, to meet our climate change goals and simultaneously feed our population; this course will discuss how to this can be done.

We will discuss natural erosion processes, as well as concepts of degradation processes of soils and landscapes. These will include the key concepts of rivers as pacemakers of natural erosion, soil erosion processes, scale and resilience, and how our knowledge can be used to achieve the utterly needed sustainable use of soils. Topographic analysis of landscapes through interactive Matlab scripts will be applied to analyse natural erosion processes. Additionally, case studies will be used to demonstrate how processes can be quantified and influenced by human interventions, including their role in carbon sequestration.

Objectives

• Explain the concepts of erosion processes in the context of geomorphology and soils
• Present and argue examples from soil and landscape degradation problems in a professional environment
• Express the complexity of soil and land degradation problems to argue for sustainable practical solutions
• Apply and evaluate their knowledge, using a literature review on a specific theme related soil and landscape degradation and processes
• Analyse soil erosion in natural landscapes using Matlab
• Describe the effects of tectonics and bedrock geology in landscapes
• Analyse the topography of landscapes in terms of long-term landscape evolution
• Evaluate how climate, tectonics, and geology shaped landscapes of interest in space and time

Teaching methods

• Lecture
• Computer lab session/practical training
• Self-study
• Working independently on e.g. a project or thesis

Discussion lectures

In the discussion lectures, the textbook of Morgan will be partly covered as well as state-of-the-art literature (student lecture),  and key papers on the specific topics that are to be selected by the students (key paper presentation). Each meeting will include student lectures and key paper presentations, also by students.

Preparation: All students will study the indicated textbook and additional texts in advance as well as the papers related to the student’s selected special topic key paper, that are going to be presented in that lecture.  A detailed schedule will be prepared during the first lecture meeting. The preparation in advance of the discussion lectures is necessary to invoke a discussion on the lecture topics and the presented key papers. Students are requested to present and submit at  least two questions or propositions on the texts (both the textbook/papers AND key papers that are presented by their colleagues

Computer lab sessions

In the second part of this course, we will mostly work on interactive Matlab script to analyse landscapes. You will learn how to investigate the effects of tectonics and geology on landscapes and how this controls erosion processes.

Project (mini literature review + landscape analysis):

Each student selects a special region from the list provided on Canvas and writes a mini-literature review on erosion processes in the selected region. This review is based on a study of at least 10 papers including one or more 'key papers' of which one should also be presented in the discussion lectures.

The report should also contain a topographic analysis of the study region and interpretation of topography in terms of tectonics, geology, and other factors. The report should have a size of between 3000-4000 words and should be ready and handed in at the end of the course. Information on topics and guidelines for writing the report can be found on Canvas.

Seminar

During the final seminar, all students will give a short pitch (5 minutes) on the findings of their project.

Learning activities

Attendance

Requirements of the programme concerning attendance (OER-B):

1. Attendance during practical components exercises is mandatory.

Additional requirements for this course:

The student may be absent in 1 seminar.

Assessment

Each of the parts will be assessed separately.  The final mark should be at least a 5.5 average to pass. There are no re-takes for the discussion meetings and presentations. If deadlines for assignments are not met then the mark will be 1.0 for that assignment. The mini-literature review should at least score a 6.0,  and a revision can be re-submitted in case of a mark <6.0.

Inspection of assessed work

Contact the course coordinator to make an appointment for inspection.

Assignments

Report:

• Write a small literature review of landscape degradation and soil erosion within a specific region. Perform a topographic analysis of the same region and interpret the landscape and degradation in terms of local tectonics and geology. A list of areas will be posted on Canvas. The report should be between  3000 and 4000 words in size, based on at least 10 scientific papers. This is an individual assignment and graded.

Pitch on report

• Give a 5 minute pitch on the main outcomes of your literature review and topographic analysis (individual, graded)

Key paper presentation

• Give a 10 minute presentation on one of your key papers that play an important role in your mini literature review (individual, graded)

Lecture

• Present one of the topics central to the course in the format of a lecture of 30 minutes (groups of 2, graded)

Discussion on lectures and key papers

• Each student will pose and submit each lecture 2 questions on the lecture theme and two on one of the key papers presented (individual, not graded)

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

Additional information

Knowledge of geomorphological processes at BSc level is required for enrollment

The course has a minimum enrollment of 8 participants, the maximum is set at 20 students

Contact information

Coordinator

• R.F. Ott