GEOL 479 Active Tectonics and Geomorphology

This course explores the interactions between the tectonic activity that build topography and the surface processes that modify and destroy it. We will explore why the Earth’s surface has the shape that it does and how the nature of sub-surface deformation can be identified and quantified from an analysis of surface deposits and topography. Lectures will draw on the fields of structural geology, field mapping, seismology, geomorphology, geodesy, geophysics, and geochronological dating techniques to understand the origin and evolution of landscapes in New Zealand and beyond. In the second half of the term, we will use numerical models and GIS to interactively explore case studies in active tectonics. Students will be expected to present literature reviews of selected classic or recent journal articles in class each week. Assessment will be based on field exercises and in-class assignments.

Schedule of Lecture hours, field trips and Location

Lecture Times: This course runs in 2 hour time slots once a week – Thursday 1-3pm (S1).
Location: To be advised

Field trip 1:  North Canterbury Active tectonics and geomorphology – Saturday 10th March 2018
Field trip 2:  South Canterbury Active tectonics and Geomorphology – Sunday 6th May 2018

Week  –  Dates  –  Topic / Activity  –  Lecturer

8  –  19 Feb  –  Course Introduction; Landscape evolution; climate change as a driver; climatic and tectonic forcing  –  JRP
9  –  26 Feb  –  Planar and linear geomorphic markers; Establishing timelines of events  –  JRP
10  –  5 March  –  Introduction to Kaikoura EQ and landscape impacts  –  JRP
10  –  10 March  –  North Canterbury – Field Trip 1  (Combined with GEOL473)  –  JRP/AN/TS
11  –  12 March  –  Earthquakes as a structural geomorphic process JRP
12  –  19 March  –  Earthquakes and paleoseismology 1  –  JRP
13  –  26 March  –  Earthquakes and Paleoseismology 2  –  JRP

14-16 April April mid-semester break

17  –  23 April  –  Landscape evolution models (Task: Fault scarp diffusion in ArcGIS and Matlab)  –  TS
18  –  30 April  –  Geomorphic offset; establishing timelines of events (Task: LaDiCaoz offset identification and measurement in LiDAR)  –  TS
18  –  6 May  –  South Canterbury -Field Trip 2  –  TS/JRP
19  –  7 May  –  Geochronology (Task: Monte Carlo simulation and Be-10 age modelling)  –  TS
20  –  14 May  –  Earthquakes as a structural and geomorphic process (Task: Coulomb elastic dislocations and stress modelling)  –  TS
21  –  21 May  –  Paleoseismology (Task: Multi-fault rupture and maximum magnitude modelling)  –  TS
22  –  28 May  –  Paleoseismology II (Task: Advanced GIS analysis in paleoseismology)  –  TS