Cosmogenic nuclides in Earth surface processes - Rates and Dates
Dr. Wittmann-Oelze – DeutschesGeoForschungszentrum
Max. Participants: 15; course language: English
Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam
Building G, Room G409
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
In the last 1-2 decades, cosmogenic nuclides have become an indispensable tool in geomorphology. They can be used to establish glacial chronologies via exposure dating of blocks and moraines, date tectonic fault scarps, and find numerous applications in burial dating when two or more stable or radiogenic cosmogenic nuclides with different half-lives are combined. These “dates” allow the reconstruction of the timing and/or cause of geologic events. Cosmogenic nuclides can also be used to reconstruct rates of landscape change: cosmogenic nuclide-derived denudation rates integrate over both erosion and weathering processes, and thus can be used to decipher the feedbacks between tectonic and climate that interact to shape the landscape we live in today. For example, the modification of today´s landscape by human perturbations can be quantified when compared to cosmogenic nuclide-derived denudation rates: Their long integration time scale gives a background denudation rate that is not modified by human interactions.
This block course will give an overview over the systematics of cosmogenic nuclides (their production mechanisms, correction procedures, erosion rate calculation etc.) and will demonstrate, on the basis of recent scientific achievements, the broad range of potential applications and future research direction. We will close the day with a tour through our ultra-clean laboratory facilities.
Day 1 - Morning Session I (8:30-11:30)
- Introduction to cosmogenic nuclides and their applications (“rates” and “dates”)
- Lecture on exposure age dating, dating of tectonic faults and burial dating
Day 1 - Morning Session II (11:30-12:30)
- Short practical exercise regarding dating methods
Day 1 - Afternoon Session I (13:30-16:00)
- Lecture on rates of landscape change - Erosion and weathering and their linkage with climate and tectonic forcing
Day 1 - Afternoon Session II (16:00-17:00)
- Short practical exercise regarding rates of landscape change
Day 1 - Afternoon Session III (17:00-17:30)
- Lab tour