Desertification

Course manual 2020/2021

Course content

This course aims at learning the principles of geo-ecological inventory. This will be illustrated within an area where
desertification and land degradation are important processes. The course is a part of the semester focusing on water-related issues. In this course the results of water shortage, as expressed by groundwater over-drafting, irrigation,
salinization, and land degradation problems will be studied. It addresses typical water-related issues in dryland regions in
contrast to the ecosystems which have an excess of water, and that are being dealt with in the other courses in the program.
It integrates earlier theoretical studied objects with real-world field conditions. The course is preceded by a GIS course
where techniques are learned to handle spatial data in a state of the art process, both by preparation of preparatory
material, as well as for processing actual data, and by implementing knowledge into a model-based scenario study on the
effects of climate change on degradation and biomass production and a spatial desertification vulnerability map.

General Layout

Introduction into the theoretical aspects of drylands and their threats such as desertification and land degradation in general and more specifically for the field area to be studied. This is divided into the following sub-sets:

-In the introduction, a landscape ecological framework for the landscape studied will be given.
-Carrying out a desertification vulnerability study.
-Interpretation of existing field data sets, orthophoto images, and on-line material to deepen landscape understanding.
-Providing an explanation of the produced geo-ecological maps and elucidating the areas’ vulnerability to land
degradation and desiccation.

-**A first introduction into (measurement) techniques to describe soils and landscapes, and quantify soil degradation, desiccation, water quality parameters, and desertification processes and patterns, and the application of one or more of these methods in a temporal or spatial setting.  **parts of this cannot be covered in a virtual field class setting, but, if covid conditions permit,  will be part of a later practical.

Study materials

Syllabus

• Field syllabus Spain 2020-2021

Software

• ArcGIS

  Aquacrop 6.0

  Google Earth

Objectives

• Apply theoretical concepts of earth and ecosystem sciences in a landscape study
• Make an inventory of landscapes in order to relate substratum-soil-geomorphology-vegetation, land use and water availability
• Integrate field observations in thematic maps and a written explanation to the produced maps
• Understand the impact of climate and land use change on soil and vegetation with respect to water management and desertification
• Effectively co-operate in small research teams with the assignment to efficiently collect and integrate data
• Conduct vulnerability analyses investigating the effects of desertification on contrasting soils or land uses
• Organize and integrate data in a clear and structered way
• Apply basic field inventory techniques (not feasible in a corona related virtual setting)

Teaching methods

• Lecture
• Computer lab session/practical training
• Presentation/symposium
• Self-study
• Supervision/feedback meeting

(Working) lectures preparing for the virtual fieldwork

An almost two weeks virtual fieldcourse in southeastern Spain.

Computer classes

Reporting

Learning activities

Attendance

Programme's requirements concerning attendance (OER-B):

• Participation in fieldwork is compulsory and cannot be replaced by assignments or other courses.
• In case of practical sessions, the student is obliged to attend at least of 90% of the sessions and to prepare himself adequately, unless indicated otherwise in the course manual. In case the student attends less than 90%, the practical sessions should be redone entirely.
• In case of tutorials/seminars with assignments, the student is obliged to attend at least 7 out of 8 seminars and to prepare thoroughly for these meetings, unless indicated otherwise in the course manual. If the course has more than 8 seminars, the student can miss up to 1 extra meeting for every (part of) 8 tutorials/seminars. If the students attends less than the mandatory tutorials/seminars, the course cannot be completed.

Additional requirements for this course:

You can only miss 2 practical lectures (werk or laptopcolleges).  Scheduled virtual fieldwork is mandatory.

Assessment

The Geo-database and Final report have a re-take. The virtual field sections cannot be re-taken

Assignments

Final Report

• The report is written jointly by the field team,

  Halfway the reporting period feed back will be given on the draft report

  Feed-back will provided after the report has been submitted

Geo-database

• The geo-database is constructed by the field team,

  Halfway the reporting period feed back will be given on the draft database

  Feed-back will provided after the final version  has been submitted

Final field maps

• The final field maps have to be ready and approved before leaving the fieldwork area and will be assessed under part Field work 2

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

Timetable

The schedule for this course is published on DataNose.

Last year's course evaluation

In order to provide students some insight how we use the feedback of student evaluations to enhance the quality of education, we decided to include the table below in all course guides.

Contact information

Coordinator

• dr. L.H. Cammeraat

Staff

• dr. W.M. de Boer
• R.L. van Hall MSc
• dr. A.M. Kooijman
• dr. W.E. Morriën
• Jim Groot