About

A field course that deals with the interactions of Earth’s spheres “Rocks – Water – Air – and Life” in the geologically and biologically diverse Jöri-Silvretta Science Arena. It follows three main objectives: Biogeochemical research, education and training, and implications of scientific insights on socio-economic systems.

Depending on interest and weather, we make daily excursions to illustrate topics such as:

• The Role of the Alps in the Global Carbon Cycle, C sinks, sources and fluxes.
• GHGs from anaerobic geobiorespiration and chemical weathering of Mesozoic marine sediments (Bünden shist).
• How geology shapes habitability: Suitability of carbonates, gneiss, serpentinite, radiolarite, and glacial-fluvial deposits for colonization by microorganisms and plants.
• Organisms at the brink of paradise and suicide in CO2-outgassing high-salt springs.
• Reconstructing glacial retreat history from biosignature molecules and sediment and soil carbon age.
• Lithologies that inhibit the colonization by organisms and soil formation.
• Ecosystem recovery from catastrophic impacts and adaptation to lasting global warming.
• Habitability development and ecosystem evolution in barren glacial retreat areas and altitudinal gradients.
• Life strategies employed by organisms under harsh and seasonally dynamic conditions.
• Physiological, epigenetic, and genomic adaptation of organisms to the complex interactions between chemical, geologic, and atmospheric determinants in lakes, glacial ice, high-salt springs, and soils in catchments with different bedrock lithologies.
• Didactic suggestions for exploring and learning about biogeosciences in the field.

Topics

• Geology: Shist, Travertine / Tufa deposits, Ela nappe: Dolomite, Gypsum, Totalp intrusion: Serpentinization. Gotschna: Radiolarite, Basin deposits. Silvretta nappe.
• Biogeochemistry: Erosion, carbonic acid weathering. Buildup and fate of organics in clay sediment and soils; carbon stabilization, flood plains and river deltas as local carbon sinks.
• Geobiology: Microbial biofilms as primary C-scavengers. Low temperature geobiochemistry in sulfur and iron dominated mineral springs. Nutrient cycling by microbial ice and snow communities. Outgassing of ancient CO2, „Geobiorespiration“ in shist rocks.
• Geo-Ecology: New landscapes in barren glacial retreat areas, development of mountain lakes and soils. Interactions between geology and hydrochemistry, soil and vegetation development. Carbon sequestration and nutrient cycling,
• Applied and Systems Biogeosciences: Alpine water resources, natural disasters, geomedicine, modern mineral water wellness, geomicrobiological and geobotanical toxins.

Enrollment Deadlines

• Until July 30 2024 via this link.
• After July 30 please inquire about open places via e-mail to kurthanselmann9(at)gmail.com

Full Details are available in the Application Package, on the Course Flyer, the QR code, and the link to the main BioGeo / GeoEco Study Site. Enter OLAT via “Guest access”.