This course teaches key field skills in in geomorphology, environmental change and biogeography. In the field and at Catania museum we examine the tectonic, environmental and bio-geographic setting of Sicily. We 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 introduce the tectonic setting through visits to raised shoreline deposits and with a first orientation day to Mount Etna. We 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 study modern and ancient beach deposits and work on fluvial sequences in the region. We also explore the island biogeography of Sicily in at field sites and with collections in the Catania museum.
