Seafloor geology

Objectives

The course aims to characterize the active geological processes in the ocean floor and coastal areas, and the resulting geodiversity. Main objectives are as follows:

1. Understand the main mechanisms of the Earth internal dynamics and their implications for the marine and coastal geology;

2. Understand geodiversity and identify the different materials in the marine branch of the geological cycle;

3. Understand the ocean floor and coastal areas morphology with respect to the processes that led to their genesis and their evolution over
time;

4. Describe sediments found in different water depths and settings, and understand the sedimentary processes leading to their deposition;

5. Describe the main geological and geophysical techniques for observing the seabed and coastal areas;

6. Describe the main geochemical cycles and their relationship to marine and coastal processes;

7. Identify key geological resources in the marine environment.

Program

1. THE EARTH AS A DYNAMIC SYSTEM

• 1.1. Evolution, evaluation, internal structure and composition
• 1.2. Formation of the atmosphere and oceans

2. PLATE TECTONICS

• 2.1. Continental Drift
• 2.2. Plate Tectonics Theory
• 2.3. hot spots

3. THE GEOLOGICAL CYCLE

3. 1. Magmatism and Volcanism

• 3.2. metamorphism
• 3.3. Sedimentation
• 3.4. Minerals and Rocks

4. OCEANIC BED MORPHOLOGY

• 4.1. Determining factors of relief in oceanic areas
• 4.2. Shapes and structures of the ocean floor
• 4.3. Origin and morphology of ocean basins and margins
• 4.4. Origin and composition of marine sediments

5. COASTAL GEOLOGY

• 5.1 Sedimentation
• 5.2 Wave impacts
• 5.3 Storm surges
• 5.4 Coastal erosion
• 5.5 Marine transgression and regression

6. STUDY METHODS IN MARINE GEOLOGY

• 6.1. Direct methods
• 6.2. Indirect methods

7. GEOCHEMICAL CYCLES AND THE OCEANS

7.1. Cycles of carbon, phosphorus and nitrogen

8. GEOLOGICAL RESOURCES OF THE OCEANIC FLOOR

• 8.1. Energy resources
• 8.2. Metallic and non-metallic resources

Teaching Methodologies

The theoretical and practical teaching of Seafloor Geology will be based mainly on a succession of lessons of both types, complementary, namely;
Theoretical classes (30 hours): theoretical teaching is based on MS Power Point, so that the subject is explained in an attractive way, using videos, diagrams and photographs illustrating the objects, concepts and processes that are the subject of analysis. The material will be exposed with continuous exploration of case studies applicable to each topic.
Practical classes (20 hours): include solving problems related to the material taught, as well as carrying out laboratory work on sediment and water samples collected by students during the field classes.
Field classes: carrying out field visits to illustrate the problems addressed and carrying out sampling of water and geological materials.
The curricular unit may also benefit from the use of the learning management platform available at the University of the Azores, thus enhancing the performance of asynchronous activities.

Bibliography

Berner, EK., Berner R.A. 2012 Global environment. Water, air and geochemical cycles. Princeton University Press, Princeton, 444 p.

Bird, E. (2000) - Coastal geomorphology, an introduction. Wiley, Chichester, 332 p.

Chester R., Jickells, T. (2012) Marine geochemistry. Wiley-Blackwell, Chichester, 411 p.

Davis, R.A. Jr., Fitzgerald, D.M. (2004) - Beaches and coasts. Blackwelf, Oxford, 419 p.

Kump, L.R., Kasting, J.E., Crane R.G. (2010) The earth system. Prentice-Hall, San Francisco.

Seibold, E., Berger, W. (2017) - The Sea Floor. An Introduction to Marine Geology. Springer, 4th Ed., 272 pp.

Thurman, H. V., Trujillo, A.P. (2002) Essentials of oceanography. Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River, 524 p.