GE478 Fjord Processes

Contents and structure

Fjord Processes is the final module within the From Mountain to Fjord programme. Through lectures, seminars, field- and laboratory work, the students are introduced to the dominating abiotic and biotic processes in fjord environments. Together with the two former modules, this provides the basis to understand and discuss how fjord ecosystems are impacted by changing environmental conditions, climate change, pollution and other anthropogenic activities. By performing a Science project that integrates the three modules, environmental signals are traced from the sediments and through the water column back to their (terrestrial or atmospheric) sources in space and time. The Science project is designed to investigate actual environmental challenges in local waterbodies, and the contents will change from year to year. The results are presented in a public seminar where potential problem owners, local authorities and others are invited.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge

• Which are the most important hydrographical processes in fjords
• How are the hydrographical processes influenced by processes on land, natural variability and anthropogenic change
• Which are the dominating biota in fjords, and how is the biodiversity affected by environmental conditions
• How are the organisms linked to each other through biological interactions, and how can climate change, pollution and other anthropogenic activities impact fjord ecosystems
• How can fjord sediments and biota be used to reconstruct environmental change through space and time

Skills

• Obtain and analyse hydrographic data
• Sample and identify fjord organisms
• Use different methods to assess ecological and chemical (pollution) conditions of fjords
• Reconstruct environmental change using signals in fjord sediments and biota
• Combine methods to analyse research questions
• Present scientific data

Competence

• Read and understand scientific reports and papers on hydrography and fjord biology
• Work in teams and answer to interdisciplinary environmental topics
• Communicate research, analyses and conclusions clearly

Entry requirements

Participation in GE476 Geological Aspects of Western Norway.

Recommended previous knowledge

90 ECTS within earth sciences, or environmental sciences, or life sciences, or similar study directions at the time of application (15th of April for international students). The module builds on GE476 Geological Aspects of Western Norway and GE477 Glaciers and Ecology.

Teaching methods

Lectures, seminars, laboratory exercises and student oral presentations. 3 days of field work and excursions

Students have to be prepared to pay for their food during fieldwork and excursions according to the HVL rules and regulations on accommodation and travel expenses.

Compulsory learning activities

Students have to prepare a short written report from the field excursion (group) and write a short blogtext on a fjord process theme (individually). Both need to be approved as a prerequisite to enter the final exam.

Assessment

40%: Written exam (2 h multiple choice test). Grading A-F.

60%: Oral exam on science project. Grading A-F.

Examination support material

Dictionary corresponding to the country of origin of the individual student.

More about examination support material