Undergraduate Course: Sedimentology, Climate and Tectonics (EASC09061)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 9 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | The aims of this course are to explore the relationship between long-term tectonic processes that determine the macro-geomorphology of the Earth's surface, the physical and chemical response to these processes, and how these are then preserved in the continental and marine stratigraphic records. The uplift and erosion of mountain ranges and rift systems reflect the primary sediment sources, with sedimentary basins and ocean floors being the sinks in which sediment is preserved. The macroscale controls on weathering, erosion, sediment transport and deposition will be studied. This includes analysis of the controls on sediment flux, grainsize and the chemical isotopic record of these processes in rivers, deserts, deltas, shallow and deep seas. The course is structured into 3 major components: 1. Uplift and subsidence of the earth's surface and the generation of sediment sources and sedimentary basins. 2. The physical processes that transport siliciclastic sediment around the globe and their preservation in the geological record. 3. The chemical and biological processes that determine carbonate and other types of sediments and their geological records.
The following course is recommended but not essential as a pre-requisite: The Dynamic Earth. For those who have not done this course, or components of the Rock Cycle, we will advise background reading. |
| Course description |
LECTURE CONTENT
Lectures 1-12 Mikael Attal; 13-20 Rachel Wood
WEEK 1:
1. Uplift and subsidence of the Earth's surface. Controls on rates of large-scale uplift of the Earth's surface including crustal thickening and mountain building, mantle flow and dynamic topography;
2. The formation of sedimentary basins - Rift/passive margins; East Africa, Corinth, Atlantic margin;
WEEK 2:
3. Sedimentary basins - due to flexure of the lithosphere (e.g., Alpine and Himalayan forelands).
4. Sedimentary basins due to strike slip and intracontinental settings;
WEEK 3:
5. Source to sink and sediment routing concepts as a framework;
6. Controls on sediment yield and flux from source areas;
WEEK 4:
7. Grain size, grain shape and sedimentary textures;
8. Sediment transport through mountain rivers, sediment cascades during extreme events;
WEEK 5: NO TEACHING
WEEK 6:
9. River systems - climate and tectonic controls on their long-term evolution;
10. Deltas - climate and tectonic controls on their long-term evolution;
WEEK 7:
11. Deep marine systems - climate and tectonic controls on their long-term evolution;
12. Sediment processes in the Anthropocene: Part 1 (Dams, irrigation, climate change);
WEEK 8:
13. How to understand the marine stratigraphic record: sequence stratigraphy;
14. Chemical sedimentary processes in the context of global tectonics and climate;
WEEK 9:
15. The modern carbonate factory;
16. Tropical coral reefs;
WEEK 10:
17. Deep water and terrestrial carbonates;
18. Diagenesis of carbonates;
WEEK 11:
19. Chemical sediments - evaporites, phosphates, and ironstones;
20. Sediment processes in the Anthropocene: Part 2 The changing carbon cycle.
PRACTICAL / FIELD TRIP CONTENT
WEEK 1 - Sands and Sandstones - Their source and composition, python coding.
WEEK 2 - Field trip to Siccar Point - Reconstruction of palaeo-topography and sedimentary processes in basin forming context. Field skills.
WEEK 3 - Modern and ancient source-to-sink systems: the Bristol region; topographic analysis using QGIS.
WEEK 4 - Modern and ancient source-to-sink systems: the Bristol region; geological map and cross-section.
WEEK 5: NO TEACHING.
WEEK 6 - Field trip to Skateraw - Sedimentary logging and palaeo-environmental reconstruction. Field skills.
WEEK 7 - Analysis of field data, python coding.
WEEK 8- Sequence stratigraphy exercise.
WEEK 9 - Modern and ancient reefs.
WEEK 10 - Temperate and pelagic carbonates.
WEEK 11 - Carbonate diagenesis+ ASSESSED TEST
|
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2026/27, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Quota: 100 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 20,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 24,
Fieldwork Hours 6,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
146 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
60 %,
Coursework
40 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Practical exercise during practical in week 11 (40%). Final 2 hour integrative exam (60%).
AI usage Statement:
AI-Assisted Editing
AI tools may be used for identifying ideas, planning, and improving the clarity of your writing, but not for content generation. AI use must be acknowledged in your submission. |
| Feedback |
All practicals will comprise formative feedback components aimed at helping them tackle the practical exam. |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Minutes |
|
| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | Sedimentology, Climate and Tectonics (EASC09061) | 120 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Describe the rates and magnitudes of surface uplift and subsidence across the planet, and the consequence for the macrotopography and climate through time.
- Assess how tectonics and climate interact at the earth's surface to generate and accumulate sediment.
- Explore the main physical transport mechanisms and biochemical processes responsible for the distribution and preservation of carbonate and siliciclastic sediments.
- Acquire an understanding of how earth's sedimentary systems have evolved through geological time and how human's have impacted this system.
- Apply the techniques required to interpret field observations of the stratigraphic record in terms of sediment transport and depositional processes through Earth's history.
|
Reading List
Burbank, D.W. and Anderson, R.S. 2011. Tectonic geomorphology. John Wiley & Sons.
Bridge, J. and Demicco, R. 2008. Earth surface processes, landforms and sediment deposits.
Leeder M.R. 1999. Sedimentology and sedimentary basins. Blackwells.
James, N.P. and Jones, B. 2015. The Origin of Carbonate Sedimentology Rocks. Wiley Works. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Group learning in teams during practicals; Critical analysis and discussion in field; data analysis and statistics. |
| Keywords | Stratigraphy,Tectonics,Sedimentology,Surface Processes,Carbonates,Siliciclastics |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Mikael Attal
Tel: (0131 6)50 8533
Email: mikael.attal@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Rebecca Steele
Tel:
Email: Rebecca.Steele@ed.ac.uk |
|
|
University Homepage