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Department of Geography Geochronology

MSc Topics

Master students interested in writing a thesis in the field of Geochronology are welcome to approach us with their own suggestions. In addition to this, members of the Research Group regularly announce topics for possible master theses (see list below).

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Tracing catchment-wide erosion using Pu-isotopes: Explorative tests on the Erlenbach (Alptal) watershed

The Alptal is in the canton of Schwyz in the Swiss Prealps and is characterised by high precipitation levels and clayey soils having a low water permeability.
The tributaries are steep and exhibit branched channels having a typical step-pool morphology and highly variable (year-round) discharge. Due to these environmental settings, erosion frequently occurs giving rise to a considerable sediment transport.
Since the 1980s, the mountain streams in the Alptal – particularly the Erlenbach – have also become a globally renowned research site for sediment transport. In 2008 and 2009, sediment transport measurement in the Erlenbach was enhanced with an automatic, globally unique measuring system equipped with sediment traps, allowing for the direct collection of sediment samples from the flow. Data exist to be elaborated and calculate erosion rates over time.
River sediments reflect erosion activity in a catchment. Chemical isotopes are often used to determine catchment-wide denudation rates. These isotopes integrate denudation rates over many years, mostly over millennia, particularly then when cosmogenic nuclides are used. Pu-isotopes (239+240Pu) are an ideal tracer to determine erosion rates. Pu is a chemical element that is mostly anthropogenically produced. It has been released worldwide due to the bomb test in the 1960s. So far, Pu has been used to measure erosion rates on single soil profiles and thus, only points in the landscape. We now try to establish an approach having a spatial realm. The aim of this thesis is:
1) to determine erosion rates over time for the Erlenbach catchment using existing sediment transport data
2) to measure erosion rates using Pu-isotopes
3) to correlate these two methods and critically discuss the results
 
To perform step 2), sediment and soil samples will have to be taken and analysed for Pu.
The thesis can start anytime and will be supervised by:
Prof. Dr. Markus Egli (markus.egli@geo.uzh.ch), Dr. Ilja van Meerveld (ilja.vanmeerveld@geo.uzh.ch)

 

See Flyer:  MSc thesis description (PDF, 2 MB)
 

Further information:  Prof. Markus Egli, Dr. Ilja van Meerveld

UNESCO Geopark in Corleone (Sicily): Soil organic carbon inventory

Corleone's past is linked to a rather dark history. But things have been changing rapidly. The picturesque town on a plateau between the Monti Sicani to the south and Palermo to the north is surrounded by a spectacular landscape. Besides the landforms, also the geology has specific peculiarities; i.e., the glauconitic calcarenite. The municipality together with the Rotary Club and the UNESCO office in Palermo intend to establish a UNESCO Global Geopark in this region. Basic scientific data about the local to regional soils are missing. The planned MSc thesis will contribute to establishment of urgently needed data that are needed for the application process of the Geopark.
A carbon inventory and characterisation of organic C fractions shall be carried out. In part, these results can be campared to earlier investigations
A collaboration with the University of Palermo (Prof. Salvatore Raimondi) is given.

See Flyer (some pictures): Corleone_landscape (JPG, 6 MB)

Further information:  Prof. Markus Egli

Carbon storage and vulnerability in alpine soils – 1: Soil organic matter changes across the treeline

Aim: Extending existing alpine elevational gradients to the tree line

  • Field work: Soil sampling of 3-5 soil pits around 1500-2000 m a.s.l. to cover the treeline ecotone
  • Lab work: CN analysis and stable isotopes, pH, texture, (+ possible one more parameter that was important/interesting in the alpine soils).
  • SOM characterization by DRIFT and FT-IR spectroscopy or soil fractionation
  • Link the data to soil carbon stocks at higher elevation and to the WSL soil data base of forest soils

Supervisors of the thesis areAnnegret Udke (WSL and UZH), Frank Hagedorn (WSL) and Prof. M. Egli.
Prof. Markus Egli

Carbon storage and vulnerability in alpine soils – 2: Pedogenic drivers of SOC vulnerability in alpine soils

Question: Is soil organic carbon lability driven by temperature or by mineralogy?

  • Field work: Soil CO2 efflux measurements along elevational gradient(s) (i.e. after snow melt, in the middle of the summer, in autumn) of different bedrock types (gneiss, amphibolit, calcareous)
  • Lab work: Soil fractionation of soils sampled along elevational gradients to assess stabilization of soil organic matter
  • SOM characterization by DRIFT and FT-IR spectroscopy

Supervisors of the thesis areAnnegret Udke (WSL and UZH), Frank Hagedorn (WSL) and Prof. M. Egli.
Prof. Markus Egli

Temporal evolution of surface (soil) denudation during the Holocene and Pleistocene; Wind River Range (Rocky Mountains)

How the landscape surface has been shaped over last about thousands of years, how soil erosion rates evolved over time and how these processes correlate with climate is a matter of debate. The Wind River Range (Rocky Mountains, USA) offers optimal conditions to study erosion rates over time by analysing the surface age of tors (large free-standing rock outcrop that is in contact with bedrock) and surrounding soils. Supervisors of the thesis are Prof. Dennis Dahms (Northern University of Iowa) and Prof. M. Egli.
Prof. Markus Egli

Automated image analysis of mineral soil properties. Can soil field survey be assisted by deep learning?

see Flyer (PDF, 150 KB)

Further information:  Prof. Markus Egli

Prograde and retrograde soil evolution in the Apennine – Italy

Soils have been used over millennia in the Apennine – in some places very intensively and in others less. We now would like to estimate current and past erosion rates and see how they affected soil formation trajectories in the Apennine of Emilia Romagna (near Bologna).
Collaboration will be with Dr. Giacomo Sartori and the Servizio difesa del suolo, della costa e bonifica (Bologna).

Flyer: (PDF, 4 MB)

Further information:  Prof. Markus Egli

Landscape evolution of the Schlappintal (canton of Grisons)

With the continuous development of  dating techniques (e.g., 10Be), the extent of glaciers and related spatial variations since the Late Pleistocene is now partially rewritten. The Schlappintal (close to Klosters) offers a nice suite of moraines and boulders that enable the dating of glacial stades and the reconstruction of the landscape since the LGM.
Prof. Markus Egli

Bewegungsrekonstruktion auf einer Rutschfläche in Braunwald

The impact of increasing frequency and intensity of drought on tree-ring growth in the Mediterranean

Reconstructing glaciers mass balances using high-elevation tree rings in the Central Alps

Tree-ring physiology: exploring the black box between genomics and wood cells

Tree rings and water: How and where can dendroecology help hydrological research? 

Weiterführende Informationen

Interdisciplinary Master's thesis topics

Interested in doing an interdisciplinary Master's thesis at the Department of Geography? Have a look at the list of currently available topics involving two or more research divisions of the Department of Geography. 

Please note

The MSc thesis can be written either in English or in German, depending on the agreement with the supervisor(s).

Master's Thesis and Exam