Postgraduate Field Course
on the Geomorphology and Quaternary Geology of Tierra del Fuego
Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, March, 15-30, 2003
Date: 31 October 2002


Courtesy of A.Coronato, 2002

FIRST CIRCULAR

Sponsoring Institutions

Application Form
(Word document)

Director

Dr Jorge Rabassa (CADIC-CONICET & Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia-Ushuaia)

Faculty

  • Dr Andrea Coronato (CADIC-CONICET & Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia-Ushuaia)
  • Dr Gustavo Bujalesky (CADIC-CONICET & Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia- Ushuaia)
  • Lic. Claudio Roig (Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia-Ushuaia)
  • Dr Mónica Salemme (CADIC-CONICET & Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia- Ushuaia)
  • Dr Daniel Acevedo (CADIC-CONICET)
  • Forestry Eng. Leonardo Collado (Natural Resources Undersecretariat, Government of the Province of Tierra del Fuego)

Geographical setting

Different sites in the Island of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina.

Dates

March 15-30, 2003

Objectives and Methodology

Through field studies, to vinculate landforms and sedimentary accumulations with their genetic conditions and spatial distribution, and the Quaternary chronology, palaeoenvironments and palaeoclimates of Southernmost South America. To analize the importance of the different landforms and their associations from the geoenvironmental and applied point of view. Field studies to be developed are related to the observation, description, interpretation, correlation and preliminary mapping, using topographic sheets, satellite imagery and aerial photographs, of the landforms existing in different environments of the Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego. These field studies will allow the gathering of the necessary information to be used afterwards in the lab work, to compile the definitive mapping and the presentation of the required exercises, for their revision and approval.

Topics to be developed

Landforms pertaining to glacial, periglacial, coastal, fluvial, and aeolian landscapes, as well as those formed by mass-movement processes will be studied. Peat-bogs and sampling techniques will also be analyzed. The Quaternary Chronology of Tierra del Fuego and Patagonia, and its relationship with the continental and global records will be discussed.

Participants

University Graduates, preferably from recent years, in Geology, Geography, Archaeology, Biology, Ecology, Agricultural Sciences, Forestry and Tourism, and related disciplines.

Number of participants

The minimum number of participants has been established in 10, and the maximum number in 24, in both cases due to logistic reasons. In case that the number of inscriptions exceeds the established maximum number of participants, the Director and the Faculty members will determine the order of the definitive list of participants. In case of last-minute withdrawals, those places will be offered to those located immediately below in such listing.

Languages

The Field Course will be offered in Spanish. If no-Spanish-speaking participants have been accepted, the Course will be offered simultaneously in Spanich and English. Individual support in Portuguese, Italian, French and German may be provided upon request.

Total length of the Field Course

Approximately 200 effective, field plus lab working hours.

Evaluation

The Field Course will only be approved: (a) after personal participation in all field and laboratory activities (with the only exception of health reasons), (b) approval of all established exercises and (c) approval of a final test on the topics studied in the course.

Programme

  • March 15. Reception of the participants at the Rio Grande City Airport. Introductory lectures. Distribution of bibliography and materials. Pre-Course Test, based on bibliographical references which will be available to definitive participants.
  • March 16. Río Grande-Cullen-Northern Zone of the Island of Tierra del Fuego-Río Grande. Reconnaissance of glacial landforms. Section description in glacial sediments. Description and detail profiles in the coastal zone.
  • March 17. Río Grande-Punta Sinaí-San Sebastián-Río Grande. Reconnaissance and mapping of glacial and fluvioglacial sediments. Aeolian sediments. Coastal landforms and sediments. Archaeological sites.
  • March 18. Río Grande-Estancia La Sara-Río Chico-Estancia María Behety-Río Grande. Marine terraces of the Last and previous Interglacial epochs. Littoral ridges. Holocene marine landscape. Ancient glaciations. Ice-wedge casts.
  • March 19. Río Grande-Lago Yehuin-Lago Fagnano-Tolhuin. Fluvioglacial Terraces. Moraines and glacial sediments. Ice-desintegration landscape. Kettles. Active peat-bogs and ancient peaty sediments.
  • Marzo 20. Tolhuin-Lago Escondido-Ushuaia. Fluvioglacial and ice-contact landscapes. Environmental Geology. Neotectonics: the Magellan Fault at Lake Fagnano. Peat-bogs. Glacial erosive landscape.
  • March 21. Ushuaia. Laboratory work at CADIC, Ushuaia. Analysis of topographic sheets, satellite imagery and aerial photographs. Preparation of the exercises corresponding to the previous fieldwork days.
  • March 22. Ushuaia. Laboratory work at CADIC, Ushuaia. Analysis of topographic sheets, satellite imagery and aerial photographs. Preparation of the exercises corresponding to the previous fieldwork days.
  • March 23. Ushuaia-Tierra Mayor-Beagle Channel-Puerto Harberton-Isla Gable-Punta Moat-Ushuaia. Glacial erosional landscape. Drumlins and Kames. Terminal moraines. Marine terraces of the Beagle Channel. Mass-movement processes. Archaeological sites.
  • March 24. Ushuaia-Tierra Mayor-Cerro Krund-Ushuaia. Reconnaissance of glacial erosional landforms. Cirques and alpine valleys. Environmental Geomorphology. Periglacial features. Patterned ground. Mass-movement processes. Peat-bogs under economic exploitation. Sampling for Palynological studies. Sub-fossil wood. Sampling for dendrochronological studies.
  • March 25. Ushuaia. Laboratory work at CADIC, Ushuaia. Analysis of topographic sheets, satellite imagery and aerial photographs. Preparation of the exercises corresponding to the previous fieldwork days.
  • March 26. Ushuaia-Aeropuerto de Ushuaia-Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego-Ushuaia. Reconnaissance of glacial landforms. Delta-kames. Marine deposits of the Lago Roca Palaeo-fjord. Archaeological sites.
  • March 27. Ushuaia-L. Martial Cirque-Ushuaia. Geomorphology and sedimentary deposits in glacial cirques. Cirque moraines. Periglacial features. Ushuaia moraines. Chronology of the Beagle Channel glaciations.
  • March 28. Ushuaia. Laboratory work at CADIC, Ushuaia. Analysis of topographic sheets, satellite imagery and aerial photographs. Preparation of the exercises corresponding to the previous fieldwork days.
  • March 29. Ushuaia. At CADIC. Final test. Formal closure of the Course.
  • March 30. Ushuaia. Departure of the participants. Special Nature and climbing trips may be organized for the participants upon request.

Requirements

  • A valid passport and visa, if so required. Please consult the nearest Argentine Embassy.
  • Be a University graduate in the cited disciplines before December 31st., 2002.
  • Basic knowledge in Geology and Geomorphology will be required, according to selected bibliographic references which will be comunicated to the definitive participants.
  • Bring working equipment according to a list that will be informed later.
  • Health and accident personal insurance, valid in the Argentine Republic, for the period between March 14th and March 31, 2003, will be inforced.
  • Have basic computer knowledge.
  • Be proficient in Spanish and/or English.

Costs

  • The total cost of the Field Course has been established in U.S. Dollars Four Hundred (U$S 400) per participant, including registration fees, materials, surface transporation in Tierra del Fuego, and full-board (lodgement and three daily meals, alcoholic beverages not included).
  • Aerial transportation to and from Tierra del Fuego is not included. Foreign participants are recommended to arrange their aerial transportation Buenos Aires-Rio Grande and Ushuaia-Buenos Aires as part of their international air tickets.
  • Payment conditions will be informed to the definitive participants. Please do not send money orders or checks now.

Registration and Correspondence

  • Until December 31st., 2002, through electronic mail, providing the following information:
  • Name and Family name, birthday date, nationality, postal and electronic address, phones, University degree and granting institution, and graduation date.
  • A detailed curriculum vitae, including education, labor and academic experience, publications, grants and scholarships, etc., shall be sent via e-mail as well.
  • Registrations received after such date will be considered only if the maximum number of participants has not been completed.

All correspondence to:

Dr Jorge Rabassa
Laboratorio de Geología del Cuaternario
CADIC,
C.C. 92,
9410 Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
e-mail or e-mail
Tel. +54-2901-422310/422314/433320
Fax: +54-2901-432948/430644

© 2002 International Association of Geomorphologists
All rights reserved