LFU:online

Prerequisite: consent of department. A lecture lecture-laboratory or seminar format will be used to discuss special topics in geology. The course content will vary from semester to semester. May be repeated for credit.

 In this course, we study and the geologic and geomorphic processes that have shaped the Austrian Alps and their ecosystems and compare them to the processes that shape the southeastern US and its ecosystems. We will review how and why the Austrian Alps formed and also the geologic and anthropogenic processes that continue to shape the landscape, specifically glaciers, landslides, floods, tectonic uplift, soil formation, erosion, human settlement, food production, and even climate change. We will look at human use of the Alps over time, settlement patterns, and social adaptations to living in a dynamic landscape. We will consider similar geological, ecological, and human dynamics in the southeastern US. All natural systems feature characteristic disturbance regimes, and we will identify and compare the disturbances characteristic to the Alps and the southeastern US. For example, tornadoes and hurricanes reshape the southeastern US, and glaciers and landslides reshape the Alps. We will consider the timescales and frequencies of disturbance, and what constitutes a relatively stable versus a dynamic landscape. The Austrian Alps provide a case study for why mountains are a harsh environment for human dwelling, and we will observe and discuss how humans adapt to living in the dynamic landscape of the Alps. We will examine local and other social structures for managing risks from natural “disasters.” Glacier field trip required, tentatively scheduled for Sunday, July 9.

Course Goals and Objectives: Students will learn the fundamentals of landscape evolution, and how biotic and abiotic factors interact to create ecological biomes. Students will learn how to use direct observations, satellite images, and maps to understand landscape history and evolution. Student will use their internalized knowledge of their home ecosystems to compare with what they see in Tirol and to thereby identify commonalities of geological and ecological processes. They will improve their ability to analyze environmental questions quantitatively and to discuss and explore ecosystem behavior through oral and written communication.

Voraussetzung: Anwesenheit bei der Vorbesprechung am 31. Mai 2017 um 17:00 Uhr im Raum 4U102b 

The University of New Orleans International Summer School program has a mandatory class attendance policy. All students are required to attend class for all morning classes and any required afternoon and/or weekend fields trips and lectures. No unexcused absences are allowed. However, LFU students who have to miss a UNO class due to LFU examinations in the first two weeks of our program, can receive one excused absence for this. Any further unexcused absences will result in an academic penalty. Each faculty member determines the penalty for missed classes. Most professors deduct a letter grade for each additional missed class day. For details, please refer to your course syllabi, which will be distributed on the first day of class. Mail: Center-New-Orleans@uibk.ac.at

Die Anrechnung der Kurse der UNO-IBK International Summer School muss von den Studierenden selbst vorab mit den zuständigen StudiendekanInnen geklärt werden. Diese allein entscheiden über die Anerkennung der belegten Kurse für das jeweilige Studienfach. Es wird empfohlen, sich einen Vorabbescheid über die Anerkennung der Kurse ausstellen zu lassen.