| Date: 5 December 2001 |
RESEARCH FOUNDATION
FOR ALPINE AND SUBALPINE ENVIRONMENTS
Amsterdam, The
Netherlands
&
VORARLBERGER
NATURSCHAU
Dornbirn,
Austria
An
introduction into alpine and subalpine environments in
a key sector of the northern Alps with emphasis on natural hazards and risks
July
14 - 21th, 2002
To be presented
under the aegis of:
CERG (Centre Européen sur les Risques Geomorphologiques),
Council of Europe,
Strasbourg,
Supported by the IAG (International Association of Geomorphologists)
Organisation :
RESEARCH
FOUNDATION FOR ALPINE AND SUBALPINE ENVIRONMENTS
VORARLBERGER
NATURSCHAU
INTRODUCTION
A one-week, CERG-Intensive Course will be
presented in Vorarlberg in July 2002. This course is meant for students and
accompanying staff members from CERG, as formally registered in Strasbourg.
This course immediately follows the one-week summer-school programme from 7 to
13 July, organized under the sponsorship of UNESCO, and the IAG Symposium on
Sunday 14 July 2002 (see below). As far as field-excursions are concerned the
two one-week courses partly show a more or less supplementary programme.
- The CERG-Intensive Course is organized on the
initiative of the 'Research Foundation
for Alpine and Subalpine Environments' (RFASE, founded March 2001 by staff
members from the former 'Alpine Geomorphology Research Group', University of
Amsterdam), with the full scientific, logistic and financial support of INATURA ('Vorarlberger Naturschau',
Dornbirn, W-Austria).
- The CERG-programme also became feasible
through a substantial financial donation from the Firma Doppelmayr A.G (Wolfurt, Vorarlberg).
- The manifestation will run under the aegis of
CERG (Centre Européen sur les
Risques Geomorphologiques, Council of Europe, Strasbourg) and will be supported
by the IAG (International
Association of Geomorphologists).
- Within the framework of the 'Year of mountains' the CERG Intensive
Course will be preceded by an IAG-Symposium on Sunday 14 July 2002, thus
linking the foregoing UNESCO Summer-school (scheduled from 7-13 July 2002, also
organized by RFASE and INATURA (Vorarlberger Naturschau) with the CERG
Intensive-Course. Free admittance to the IAG-Symposium is given for all
participants of the Summer-school and of the CERG Intensive-Course.
JUSTIFICATION
The organisation and presentation of a CERG
'Intensive Course' in Vorarlberg by RFASE and by the Vorarlberger Naturschau
will be undertaken to distribute unique knowledge and field experience obtained
during decades of student training, research and contract work in this part of
the northern Alps. Some past achievements and recent activities are:
- Geomorphological mapping (at scale 1:10,000) has been carried out over extensive areas in and around Vorarlberg. Mapping proved to be a very powerful tool in landscape and project-site analysis. Two series of 12 map sheets (A-2) with natural hazard and geo-technical overlays have been published, providing an important data base for further research, other derivative maps, GIS, contract work and EU-funded projects (e.g. Cartesian, 2000).
- Knowledge of the glaciation history of the
Rhine Glacier system in and around Vorarlberg has substantially increased.
Climate reconstructions of the Upper Würm are in progress.
- Much experience has been gained with slope
stability problems (fossil and active mass movements) and with related hazard
and risk analysis.
- A 'Geotopinventar' (inventory of unique geosites, prepared in 1988) recently attracted renewed attention by the government of Vorarlberg. This inventory will be modernized.
- Since the early eighties, a number of
detailed case studies (mainly contract work for engineering and forestry
departments) has been carried out in Austria, Liechtenstein and Switzerland,
now offering splendid sites for demonstration and instruction.
There are several other reasons to select
Vorarlberg as an international centre for earth scientific educational projects
like the CERG Intensive Course:
- Vorarlberg is considered to be most suitable
for earth-scientific and landscape-ecological training and research. The alpine
and sub-alpine environments in this northern section of the Alps are highly
dynamic and show much variation. Its geology and geomorphology is rich and
complex. Moreover, the different landscape types are very well preserved: fields
are only slightly modified by agriculture, as traditional land-use is cattle
farming and forestry.
- Additional advantages can be mentioned. Most
of the valleys and research areas in and around Vorarlberg are well accessible.
Aerial photographs are available. Accommodation of student groups up to 40
persons is possible in the Kolpinghaus. The 'Vorarlberger Naturschau' and other
cooperating institutions are offering modern facilities for lecturing and in
preparing excursions and fieldwork.
In general: A good knowledge of materials,
processes and landforms is fundamental to understand the evolution of dynamic
and vulnerable environments. Integrated geological, geomorphological and
environmental (landscape-ecological) field training is nowadays rarely part of
the university curricula in geosciences, but should be considered as a 'must'.
Integrated training also is of great value to bridge gaps with related
disciplines.
Therefore, the aim of this course is to demonstrate how detailed knowledge on
alpine and subalpine environments can be obtained, as well as to increase field
experience in geosciences, with emphasis on slope stability problems and
natural hazards and risks :
Course
participants will be learned 'to read landscapes' in complex settings and to
evaluate field conditions in the context of various scientific and practical
demands.
TARGET
GROUP AND SUBSCRIPTION
The CERG-Intensive Course is open for
advanced students from European institutes of CERG-members. Moreover, the IAG will select two young
geomorphologists from less favoured countries outside of Europe (see
scholarships). These students should have a general interest in alpine and subalpine
environments, especially in general survey and inventory techniques, next to a
keen interest in slope stability problems and hazard and risk analyses.
For subscription and further information
please contact Dr. A. C. Seijmonsbergen, b/a IBED-Fysische Geografie
(University of Amsterdam), Nieuwe Achtergracht 166, NL-1018 WV AMSTERDAM. Tel.
+31-20-5257427. E-mail: A.C.Seijmonsbergen@science.uva.nl
ACCOMMODATION
and COSTS
From Saturday-evening 13 July to
Monday-morning 15 July accommodation is arranged in the Youth Hostel of Bregenz
(on the basis of 2- to 4-bed rooms, including breakfast). The Youth Hostel is
situated near the railway station (it takes 15 minutes by train to Dornbirn) in
order to attend the foregoing IAG-Symposium on Sunday 14 July 2002.
From Monday-evening onwards accommodation
is in the Kolpinghaus in Dornbirn (2-bed rooms; breakfast included). The
one-week CERG programme in Vorarlberg will be organized for about 40
participants, being the limit of accommodation in the Kolpinghaus. Additional
hotel accommodation for a low number of accompanying staff members is possible
as well (at own costs). Reservations should be made before January 2002. The
total number of participants taking part in excursions, anyhow, should not exceed
45 persons. Further details:
l
Students attending the
one-week intensive course have to pay a contribution
of 100 Euros, which includes
materials, excursions, accommodation from 13-21 July, and participation in the
IAG Symposium. Some lunches/buffets/dinners are provided as well (see
programme).
l
Accompanying CERG
staff members
have to pay for their own (hotel) accommodation and might have to pay a small
contribution for the costs of excursions.
l
The
CERG Intensive Course is open for students and for staff members from CERG. Two
young, non-European geomorphologists will be selected to participate by the
IAG. They will have the same facilities as indicated for the students, without
the payment of a financial contribution (for additional information, see 'scholarships').
l
Travelling costs to/from Vorarlberg
is not paid for (see 'scholarships').
SCHOLARSHIPS
The Executive Committee of the
International Association of Geomorphologists (IAG) decided to offer two grants to cover travelling expenses (to a maximum of 1,000 Euros per person) and course fees (including subscription, materials, excursions and accommodation)
for two young geomorphologists from less favoured countries of Africa, Latin
America and Asia. Selection of applicants will be carried out by the IAG.
For further information on the
IAG-Scholarships (as well as on the IAG Symposium on Sunday, 14 July 2002),
please contact Prof. Mauro Soldati - Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra -
Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia - Largo S. Eufemia, 19 - 41100
MODENA (Italy). E-mail: soldati@unimo.it
PROGRAMME (Preliminary programme and time-table):
Saturday 13-7
16.00-22.00 Arrivals, accommodation and informal
meeting of staff and participants.
Sunday
14-7 IAG-Symposium, organized within the framework of the 'International
Year of Mountains', as 2002 is officially declared by the UN.
The programme is in
preparation by the IAG and will be forwarded later to the course participants.
Monday
15-7
08.30-09.15 Registration of participants and coffee at the Vorarlberger
Naturschau.
A poster-session will be presented during
the day, from 08.30 onwards.
09.15-09.40 Opening ceremony with representatives
of the Government of Vorarlberg, 'Stadt Dornbirn', CERG, IAG, the sponsoring
Firma Doppelmayr (Wolfurt, Vorarlberg) and the organizing institutions ('Vorarlberger
Naturschau', and 'RFASE').
09.45-10.00 Coffee-break, poster session.
10-10-10.10 Short introduction into the course
programme (President RFASE).
10.10-12.30 Introductory lectures (25 min. + 10
min. discussions each)
10.10- Friebe, G. (Vorarlberger Naturschau, Dornbirn):
- Regional geology: Geolog. zonation,
stratigraphic table, cross sections.
10.45- De Jong, M.
(RFASE, Amsterdam):
- Overview of the glaciation history of the
Upper Würm; sediment types.
11.20- de Graaff,
L. (RFASE, Amsterdam):
- Pleistocene
sedimentation patterns and valley glaciation models.
11.55- Soldati, M.
(Modena):
- Landslides and climate changes in the Alps
since the Late-Glacial.
.
12.30-13.30 Buffet 'in the house' offered by the
Vorarlberger Naturschau.
13.30-17.15 Introductory and special guest lectures
(25 min.+ 10 min. each) :
13.30- Mantovani,
F. (Ferrara):
- Remote sensing techniques and landslide
detection and monitoring
14.05 - Corsini, A. (Modena):
- GIS as a tool for landslide susceptibility
mapping.
14.40- Seijmonsbergen,
H. (IBED-Physical
Geography, Amsterdam):
- Slope instability and hazard zoning in
mountainous environments.
15.15-15.30 Coffee/tea-break. Poster session.
15.30- Maier, B. (Forestry department 'Stand
Montafon', SE-Vorarlberg):
- Protection function of forests and
subsequent forest management.
16.05- Reiterer, a.
(Wildbach- und Lawinenverbauung, Bregenz):
- Georisks in Vorarlberg.
16.40- Czurda, K. (Univ. Karlsruhe):
- The Doren landslide.
17.15-17.30 Information on the excursion/fieldwork-programme. Poster
session.
19.15- Evening dinner for staff
members and participants, offered by the Vorarlberger Naturschau in Dornbirn.
Tuesday 16-7
08.15-17.30 Excursion: Northern Bregenzerwald.
Presentation by Leo de Graaff & Mat De Jong, with contributions of Kurt
Czurda, Georg Friebe, Herman Hyden, Else Kolströp, Harry Seijmonsbergen and/or
others.
Topics: Tilted and folded Molasse; glaciation
history (Quaternary sediment sequences and landforms), formation of travertine
deposits, active mass movements (the Doren landslide).
Lunch: Self-service in Rankweil (at own
costs).
Dinner: Evening dinner in the Kolpinghaus
(drinks at own costs)
20.15-21.30 Evening lecture at the Vorarlberger
Naturschau by Prof. Kurt Czurda c.s. (Univ. Karlsruhe) on other case studies in
Vorarlberg.
Wednesday
17-7
08.15-17.30 Excursion: Northern Bregenzerwald (Lecknertal,
Bolgenachtal, Sibratsgfäll).
Presentation: Harry Seijmonsbergen & Luuk Dorren, Leo de Graaff
& Mat De Jong, Walther Bauer (with assistance of the 'Wildbach u.
Lawinenverbauung'), Georg Friebe, Else Kolströp, Hellmut Völk and/or others.
Topics: Flysch and Helvetic rocks; mass
movements and hazard & risk analyses (prehistoric 'Sturzstrom' Lecknertal
and Bolgenach landslides; Rindsberg landslide >180 ha, east of
Sibratsgfäll).
Lunch: Packed lunches will be provided by the
Kolpinghaus.
Dinner: Evening dinner in the Kolpinghaus
(drinks at own costs).
20.15-21.30 Evening lecture in the Vorarlberger
Naturschau by Prof. dr. Edmund Krauter (Geocenter Mainz) on :
- Out of practice: slope instability and
active landslides, some case studies out of the field of engineering geology.
Thursday 18-7
08.15-18.00 Excursion: Two case
studies of active mass movements: 1) the Widentobel (Altstätten, Switzerland).
Presentation: Theo van Asch, Erik Cammeraat, Jan Rupke, Harry Seijmonsbergen,
Luuk Dorren) and 2) the Schlucher catchment (Malbun, Liechtenstein).
Presentation Emanuel Banzer, Leo de Graaff, Jan Rupke, Harry Seijmonsbergen,
Jörg Zürcher.
Lunch: Packed lunches will be provided by the
Kolpinghaus.
18.30-21.30 Evening reception and dinner, offered
by the 'Amt für Wald, Natur und Landschaft',
Fürstentum of Liechtenstein.
Friday
19-7
08.15-17.30
Fieldwork:
Demonstration and application
of geophysical methods in the impact area of the historical rockfall avalanches
at the foot of the Breitenberg, Dornbirn. Presentation
Dick Biewinga, Dietrich Ellwanger, Leo de Graaff, Emanuel Lauterbach, Jan Rupke,
Harry Seijmonsbergen.
Methods: ground-radar,
geo-electrical, geomagnetic and seismic profiling, electro-magnetic radiation
measurements (a newly developed technique).
Lunch at own costs
(in the Kolpinghaus or elsewhere).
19.00-22.30 Reception and dinner (Haslach) offered
by the city council of Dornbirn and evaluation of the CERG-Intensive Course.
Certificates of attending the CERG-Intensive Course will be provided to the
student-participants.
Saturday
20-7
08.15-18.30 Excursion: The
landslide area of Flims (Switserland): the largest pre-historic landslide
complex in the Alps (10-15 km2 of material, covering an area of over
50 km2; presentation Dr. Andreas von Poschinger (Geolog. Landesamt,
München).
Lunch: Packed lunches will be provided by the
Kolpinghaus.
Sunday
21-7 Departure of CERG
participants.
N.B.!: Some
of the excursion routes may bring us in rough or wet mountainous terrain.
Moreover, weather conditions in the Alps may change rapidly. Therefore, next to
a profess-ional field-geological outfit, an umbrella, weather-resistant clothes
and mountain-proof shoes are strongly advised.
Amsterdam
- Dornbirn, 25 November, 2001
|
More information: Dr. A.C. Seijmonsbergen b/a IBED-Fysische Geografie Nieuwe Achtergracht 166 NL-1018 WV Amsterdam, The Netherlands Tel: +31 20 5257427 |