The goal of the course is to understand the distinctive role and significance of Quaternary geology in the broader geological culture as a tool for comprehending global climate change and the hazards and requirements that it entails. Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to
D1: Knowledge and understanding
- Understand the main characteristics and differences of the Quaternary compared to other geological periods
- know the main depositional environments of the Quaternary and the main study techniques;
- interpret climate and environmental changes during the Quaternary.
D2: Applying knowledge and understanding
-Acquire the ability to apply simple early detection, sampling and processing techniques
-Acquire the ability to analyze the problem within a broader framework.
D3: Making judgment
-Develop capacity to organise and plan field surveys and to collect and select data
-Apply learned principles to real-life cases
- Develop capacity for reflection on transversal issues of current climate change
D4 Communication skills
- appropriately utilise scientific vocabulary;
- develop a brief exposition on a topic
D5: Learning skills:
- encourage individual interaction with teachers and between students during practical activities

Basic knowledge about geology, stratigraphy and geomorphology.

The role of the Quaternary Era in the history of the Earth: climate change and glaciations. Geological archives for the reconstruction of the climate and environment of the Quaternary: depositional environments, proxies and dating methods, global climate correlations. The Quaternary of continental environments: glacial environment, lacustrine environment and varves, aeolian environments, and ice cores. The Quaternary of the marine and coastal environment, sea level variations. The Anthropocene and global warming, the IPCC, scenarios of future change and risks associated with climate change. Case studies taken from the international literature and the context of the Northern Adriatic and the Eastern Alps. Initial simple techniques of field survey, sampling and data processing will be applied.

• Vivien Gornitz 2009; Encyclopedia of Paleoclimatology and Ancient Environments. Dordrecht, Springer. • Lowe & Walker, 2015. Reconstructing quaternary environments. 3. ed. - London ; New York, Routledge, 2015 All the presentations and documents used during the lessons will be available via Teams on the Web (UniTS).

The role of the Quaternary Era in the history of the Earth: history of knowledge on the Quaternary; stratigraphic framework; the representation of the Quaternary in geological maps; the CARG project. Climate: definition; climate factors; climate change and glaciations; Milankovitch and astronomical theory. Geological archives for the reconstruction of climate and environment in the past: general concepts, depositional environments and proxies (lithological and biological); dating methods; the global chronostratigraphic correlation table. The Quaternary of glacial environments: glaciers, Quaternary glaciations, study methods and proxies, glaciations on the Alps and in Friuli Venezia Giulia. The Quaternary of lake environments: varves, the case study of the Lake Baikal. The marine Quaternary: marine sediments and study methodologies, isotopic stratigraphy. Ice Cores: study methods and examples of datasets (Vostok Core). The Quaternary of coastal environments: sea level variations (basic principles, components, reconstruction of the Quaternary history; coastal forms and paleoenvironmental significance; marine terraces, coastal dunes, river deltas and lagoons; sea level variations in the Mediterranean; case studies of the Adriatic platform and coasts. The Quaternary of aeolian environments: coastal dunes, continental dunes, loess, examples and case studies of the Adriatic region. The climate of the Quaternary and the Anthropocene: global climate correlation and possible causes of the Pleistocene revolution, man and climate variations, the role of CO2, the IPCC and scenarios of future change. The risks associated with climate change: the case of Friuli Venezia Giulia. Case studies taken from international literature and from the context of the Upper Adriatic and the Eastern Alps will complete the treatment of the individual topics. Simple survey, sampling and data processing techniques will be applied.

Lectures in the classroom with Power Point presentations with many examples of real-world territorial context Laboratories and educational excursions It is highly recommended that students take part in laboratories and excursions.

Free choice Course (type D) for LT in Geology. For further information, contact the teacher at bezzi@units.it.

The learning is evaluated through 3 tests: (1) Preparation of a brief technical report on the practical activity carried out in the field and in the laboratory. (2) Presentation in power point prepared by the student on a chosen subject, obtained by reading scientific articles (eventually provided by the teacher). (3) Oral discussion on program topics, aimed at evaluating the learning and the ability of students to organize and expose information with adequate language. The score of the test is awarded in thirtieth, calculated as the average of the 3 tests. Alternative methods of verification are provided for students unable to attend the excursion and laboratory hours.

This course covers subjects that are directly connected to one or more aspects of the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.