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Quaternary

* Exchange students do not have to consider this information when selecting suitable courses for an exchange stay.

Course Unit Code541-1001/01
Number of ECTS Credits Allocated5 ECTS credits
Type of Course Unit *Choice-compulsory type B
Level of Course Unit *First Cycle
Year of Study *Second Year
Semester when the Course Unit is deliveredSummer Semester
Mode of DeliveryFace-to-face
Language of InstructionCzech
Prerequisites and Co-Requisites Course succeeds to compulsory courses of previous semester
Name of Lecturer(s)Personal IDName
MAR31prof. Ing. Marian Marschalko, Ph.D.
Summary
Course brings the elementary overview of the quaternary period, which is the rapidly evolving multidisciplinary subject amongst the Earth sciences. Subject studies and explains particular processes in the quaternary period, geologic, geomorphologic and climatic oscillations and their influences upon the natural environment. Closer focus is on the practical application of skills in GIS and environmental models. Subject endeavors to synthesize particular knowledges from the field of geology, paleoclimatology, geomorphology, biology and geoarcheology.
Learning Outcomes of the Course Unit
Course is structured in individual thematic blocks and is designed to give the students fundamentals of quaternary with the emphasis placed on application frame with the utilization of GIS and environmental models.

Students will be able to understand fundamental processes in the quaternary period, explain geological, climatological and other natural phenomenons which took place during this period as well as understand the field of periodic variations of the natural environment after completing this course. Student should be able to use GIS and environmental models in the field of natural environment reconstruction after the acquiring of knowledges and skills.
Course Contents
1. The term quaternary, division of the quaternary and different approaches to its definition.
2. Milankovič cycles, Quaternary climatic oscillations, Iversen cycle.
3. The influence of other geographical and circulation factors on climate oscillations (thermohaline exchanger, influence of the salinity of the Mediterranean region and the North Atlantic).
4. Main geological and geomorphological processes in the Quaternary (Pleistocene and Holocene).
5. Glacial, glacifluvial and glacilacustrine sediments.
6. Eolian sediments, significance of loess for Quaternary stratigraphy, pedogenetic processes.
7. Fluvial processes in the Pleistocene and Holocene, the importance of river terraces (chronology, geoarchaeology).
8. Vegetation in the Quaternary (Turgayan flora, development of phytocenoses during climatic oscillations).
9. Fauna in the Quaternary (ancient fauna versus fauna of cold fluctuations, main groups of vertebrates and invertebrates and their paleontological and paleoecological significance).
10. The Holocene and cold fluctuations at its beginning, the Atlantic as a climatic optimum, the development of the LVS.
11. Changes in human influence on the surrounding nature during the Pleistocene and Holocene, the importance of studying the Quaternary and Cenozoic periods for the issue of global changes in the natural environment.
12. Possibilities of modeling changes in the natural environment and anthropogenic influences using GIS and numerical models I. (ArcGIS Spatial Analyst, IDRISI Land Change Modeler, GCM).
13. Possibilities of modeling changes in the natural environment and anthropogenic influences using GIS and numerical models II. (SWAT, MIKE environmental models).
Recommended or Required Reading
Required Reading:
LOWE, J.J., WALKER, M.J.C. (1997): Reconstructing Quaternary Environments. 2nd ed. Harlow, Prentice Hall. 446 s. ISBN: 978-0-582-10166-1
ROBERTS, N. (1998) : The Holocene. Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford, 344 s. ISBN: 978-0631-86380
GOLDBERG, P., MACPHAIL, R.I. (2007): Practical and Theoretical Geoarcheology. London, Blackwell Publ., 455 s. ISBN: 978-0-632-0604-3
GOUDIE D. E., PARKER A.S., ANDERSON A.G. (2007) : Global Environments through the Quaternary. Oxford University Press, 392 s. ISBN-13: 978-0-19-874226-5
LOŽEK, V. (2011): Po stopách pravěkých dějů. O silách, které vytvářely naši krajinu. Praha, Dokořán. 184 s. ISBN 978-80-7363-301-1
RŮŽIČKOVÁ, E. et al. (2003): Kvartérní klastické sedimenty České republiky. Praha, Česká geologická služba, 160 s. ISBN: 80-7075-600-4
ZEMAN, A., DEMEK, J. (1984): Kvartér: geologie a geomorfologie. 1. vyd. Praha, SPN, 192 s.
GOUDIE D. E., PARKER A.S., ANDERSON A.G. (2007) : Global Environments through the Quaternary. Oxford University Press, 392 s. ISBN-13: 978-0-19-874226-5
Recommended Reading:
BATTARBEE, R.W., BINNEY, H.A. (2008): Natural climate variability and global warming. A Holocene perspective. Chichester, John Wiley & Sons. 287 s. ISBN 978-1-4051-5905-0
BRADLEY, R. (1999): Paleoclimatology. 2nd ed. International Geophysics Series. Vol. 68. London Elsevier/Academic Press, 614 s. ISBN: 978-0-12-124010-3
BELL, M., WALKER, M. J. C. (2005): Late Quaternary Environmental Change. 2nd ed. Harlow, Prentice Hall. 348 s. ISBN: 978-0-13-033344-5
BRIDGE, J.S. (2007): Rivers and Floodplains. Blackwell Publishing, Malden. 491 s. ISBN: 978-0-6320-6489-2
SVOBODA, J. et al. (1994) : Paleolit Moravy a Slezska, Archeologický ústav AV ČR, Brno, 209 s. ISBN 80-901679-1-8
LOŽEK, V. (2011): Po stopách pravěkých dějů. O silách, které vytvářely naši krajinu. Praha, Dokořán. 184 s. ISBN 978-80-7363-301-1
LOŽEK, V. (2007): Zrcadlo minulosti. Česká a slovenská krajina v kvartéru. Praha, Dokořán, 198 s. ISBN: 978-80-7363-095-9
DAWSON, A. (1992): Ice Age Earth. Late Quaternary Geology and Climate. London, Routledge, 293 s. ISBN: 0-415-01566-9
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Lectures, Tutorials
Assesment methods and criteria
Task TitleTask TypeMaximum Number of Points
(Act. for Subtasks)
Minimum Number of Points for Task Passing
Exercises evaluation and ExaminationCredit and Examination100 (100)51
        Exercises evaluationCredit33 17
        ExaminationExamination67 18