Detailed Description

This course teaches key field skills in in geomorphology, environmental change and biogeography. In the field and at Catania museum we will examine the tectonic, environmental and bio-geographic setting of Sicily. We will also explore the Quaternary environmental history of Sicily and a range of processes within physical geography and biogeography in an island setting. This field course builds on second year and feeds into a range of third year courses. We will introduce the tectonic setting through visits to raised shoreline deposits and with a first orientation day to Mount Etna. We will also examine the biogeographical impact of a volcanic setting by mapping vegetation on new and older lava flows on the flanks of Mount Etna. In order to build skills of geomorphic analyses we will study modern and ancient beach deposits and work on fluvial sequences in the region. We will also explore the island biogeography of Sicily in at field sites and with collections in the Catania museum. There will be one rest day during the trip.