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Aluvialne pahljače so dinamično sedimentacijsko okolje, v katerem se prepletajo tako gravitacijski kot aluvialni sedimentacijski procesi, ki za seboj pustijo značilne sedimentne faciese. Preplet gravitacijskih in aluvialnih sedimentnih faciesov je še posebej značilen za pahljače v gorskem okolju. Primer doline, ki so jo v holocenu začeli zasipavati sedimenti na številnih aluvialnih pahljač, je dolina Planice v severozahodni Sloveniji. Doktorska disertacija je namenjena detajlni sedimentološki analizi holocenskih sedimentacijskih procesov na aluvialnih pahljačah v gorskem okolju, njihovemu časovnem in prostorskem pojavljanju ter dejavnikom, ki vplivajo na njihovo sprožitev. Facielna analiza vključuje opis sedimentnih struktur, tekstur ter litologije zrn. Opravili smo jo na sedimentih odloženih na površju pahljač ter v detajlnih sedimentoloških profilih. Starost sedimentnih nanosov smo določili z dendrogeomorfološko metodo ter radiokarbonskimi datacijami. Datiranim nanosom smo pripisali sprožitvene meteorološke dogodke, ki jih je zabeležila meteorološka postaja Rateče. Pri določevanje sedimentnih faciesov in morfoloških značilnosti pahljač smo uporabili tudi metode daljinskega zaznavanja (lidarske posnetke ter brezpilotni letalnik). Z georadarjem smo opravili podpovršinske raziskave. Skupno smo določili osem sedimentnih faciesov. Šest jih je značilnih za aluvialna sedimentacijska okolja in se pojavljajo predvsem tam, kjer preperevanje kamninske podlage ne tvori drobnozrnatih (muljastih) sedimentov. Le dva faciesa sta značilna za gravitacijske (drobirske in blatne) masne tokove, ki se pojavljajo le na lokacijah, kjer pri preperevanju kamninske podlage nastaja večja količina muljastega sedimenta. Sedimentološki podatki, datacije, povezava sedimentnih procesov s sprožitvenimi dogodki, podatki daljinskega zaznavanja in podpovršinske raziskave dokazujejo, da aluvialne pahljače gradijo predvsem aluvialni sedimentacijski procesi, ki jih prožijo pogosta 24-urna deževja z več kot 50 mm padavin. Sedimentacijski procesi gravitacijskih tokov so redkejši, vendar destruktivnejši in so pogojeni z zaledno litologijo. Alluvial fans are a dynamic sedimentary environment where a set of sedimentary facies typical of alluvial and gravity sedimentary process occur. Such interlinked occurrence of sedimentary processes is typical for alluvial fans in the alpine environment. An example of an alpine valley is the Planica Valley in northwest Slovenia, which is covered by numerous Holocene alluvial fans. Multimethod research of this dissertation is focused on detailed sedimentary analysis of Holocene sedimentary deposits which built a set of typical alpine alluvial fans, spatio-temporal presence of these process and factors which contribute to their occurrence. Sedimentary analysis of facies is based on structure, texture, and lithology of sediment documented on fan’s surfaces and in sedimentary profiles. Sedimentary deposits were dated using dendrogeomorphology and radiocarbon dating. Dated deposits were related to triggering rainfall events monitored at the Rateče meteorological station. Processes and alluvial fan landforms were also defined using remote sensing techniques (lidar and unmanned aerial vehicle). Ground-penetrating radar technique was applied to understand subsurface geometry. We classified eight sedimentary facies, mostly typical for alluvial sedimentary environments. They occur where the bedrock does not weather into fine-grained (mud) sediment. Only two facies are typical for gravitational (debris and mud) flow, which occur at places with bedrock that weathers into large amounts of fine-grained sediment. Sedimentary analysis, dating of deposits, relating dated deposits to triggering rainfall events, remote sensing and subsurface data prove that alluvial fans are predominantly built by alluvial sedimentary processes during frequent 24-hour rainfalls that exceed 50 mm. Gravitational mass movement sedimentary process are much less frequent, however much more destructive and conditioned by bedrock lithology.

Glavni cilj ovog diplomskog rada bio je usporediti recentne dravske sedimente sa sedimentima na lokalitetu Novigrad Podravski te im utvrditi porijeklo. U tu je svrhu obiđen i snimljen teren, uzorkovani su šljunci i pijesci te su napravljene granulometrijska i petrografska analiza te analiza teške mineralne frakcije. Rezultati petrografske analize i analize teških minerala ukazuju da porijeklo recentnih sedimenata rijeke Drave i četvrte dravske terase (pleistocen) odgovara geologiji istočnih Alpa koje su građene od neoproterozojskih i fanerozojskih metamorfnih stijena. Sastav valutica ukazuje i na prisutnost vulkanskih stijena u izvorišnom području. Ne isključuje se mogućnost da je dio materijala četvrte dravske terase pretaložen s okolnih gora čije je uzdizanje započelo u pliocenu, što je potkrijepljeno većom zrelošću teške frakcije te povećanim udjelima epidota, cirkona, rutila i turmalina u pojedinim uzorcima. The main goal of this Thesis was to compare recent Drava river sediments with sediments of Novigrad Podravski and determine their provenance. For that purpose river and excavation sites were visited and surveyed where gravel and sand were sampled. This was followed granulometric, petrographic and quantitative heavy mineral analysis. Results show that the recent Drava river sediments and the 4th Drava river terrace (Pleistocen) to some degree have similar characteristics, and are ultimately derived from a common source area in the Eastern Alps largely built of neoproterozoic and phanerozoic metamorphic rocks. Composition of pebbles indicates the presence of volcanic rocks in the source area. It is not not excluded that a part of 4th Drava river terrace sediments represent redeposited material from surrounding hills and mountains uplifted since the Pliocen, which is substantiated by the maturity of THM fraction and increased proportions of epidot group minerals, zircon, rutile and tourmaline in some specimens.

During the Last Glacial Maximum, a large part of the eastern Adriatic shelf was exposed, resulting in a distinctive landscape. With postglacial sea level rise, many coastal landforms were drowned and filled with Quaternary sediments. Here, we describe the geomorphological features and sedimentary processes shaping the submerged landscape of the Prokljan Lake, a part of the karst Krka River Estuary (KRE). KRE is a 24 km long microtidal salt-wedge estuary located in central Dalmatia. The estuary extends to the last active tufa waterfalls, Skradinski buk, which is a part of the National park Krka. High resolution multibeam bathymetry, sub-bottom profiling and side-scan sonar were used to determine the evolution of the seafloor morphology of the estuary shaped by postglacial sea level variability. The dataset covered approx. 6 km2 of a shallow seabed area with depths of up to 25 m. The observed paleolandscape is unique and well preserved, consisting of the former terrestrial landforms. The most prominent feature is a 3.5 km long complex tufa barrier system, with adjoining basins, at depths ranging from 5 to 20 m bsl. Other distinct features are numerous carbonate mounds and incised river valley. These features are covered or partially filled with fluvial/lacustrine and estuarine sediments. In addition, 36 grab samples and video observations provided ground truth for sediment determination and classification of the estuarine bottom, while 5 piston sediment cores enabled correlation with seismic data. Based on analyzed landform morphology and sediment stratigraphy, the flooding of the river canyon due to sea level rise in the Prokljan Lake started at approx. 10000–9500 y BP and the formation of the estuary at approx. 7500 y BP. The results of ongoing study provide a better understanding of past environments in this submerged system related to the postglacial sea level rise.This study was supported by the Croatian Science Foundation Project “Sediments between source and sink during a late Quaternary eustatic cycle: the Krka River and the Mid Adriatic Deep System” (QMAD) (HRZZ IP-04-2019-8505).

1 Abstract The material of hamster remains in the Quaternary fossil assemblages from Czech Republic and Slovakia was analyzed in details with aid of biometric comparisons and contextual analyses focused on stratigraphic position of particular records and structure of the small mammals communities accompanying them. Cricetus as well as small hamsters (Allocricetus-Cricetulus) were recorded in all main Quaternary biozones (MN17-Q4). Yet Cricetus was recorded in few assemblages only mostly just with a single specimen only, except for several Q2 sites and those from the present glacial cycle (with peak abundance in preboreal and boreal). Despite obvious common trends (enlarging size from MN17 to Q3) all samples show roughly the same pattern of dental variation supporting a concept of Cricetus as a monotypic genus with a single species, C. cricetus covering all fossil forms separated as its subspecies. Correspondingly, our results support congeneric status of MN17-Q3 Allocricetus and Q4 Cricetulus, despite separating them as independent species, i.e., Cricetulus bursae and Cricetulus migratorius. Analysis of subrecent samples of C. migratorius from Turkey revealed a very broad span of phenotype variation in extant species covering both the variation framework of extant Phodopus sungorus and metric variation in a...

Quaternary molluscs assemblages are one of the most important sources of information used for palaeoecology and biogeography reconstructions, yet little attention has been paid to the informative value of quaternary profiles on a landscape spatial scale. In the area of Velka Fatra Mts., a large number of existing records concerning both recent and quaternary land snails enable us to compare Holocene and recent species diversity to estimate how many profiles are needed to evaluate species richness of such geomorphologically diverse area. In this study, available data are supplemented with samples from additional recent sites and quantitative analysis of material from quaternary profiles Stankovany and Skamenelá skala. In recent sites, 129 species of terrestrial molluscs were recorded (more than 72 % of land snail species occurring in Slovakia). Samples from all seven Holocene profiles yielded 93 species, covering more than 85 % of recent land snails diversity. On the other hand, only about 50 % of recent land snail species were recorded in a single profile, thus highlighting the importance of multiple profiles evaluation in palaeoecological studies.

The Krka River Estuary is a microtidal karstic salt-wedge estuary located in the central Dalmatia (Croatia). The upper part of the estuary, i.e. the submerged narrow canyon and the Prokljan Lake, was studied for the first time by multiproxy analyses of 5 sediment cores supplemented with bathymetric and high-resolution seismic data. The aim was to identify the main processes controlling the sedimentary infill and to reconstruct its paleoenvironmental evolution during the Holocene. The study revealed a unique and well preserved submerged paleolandscape with an evolution from lowstand fluvial and lacustrine environment to transgressive and highstand estuarine to marine conditions. Seismic data showed a Pleistocene fluvial incised Krka River valley, with low accumulation rates and sediment bypass towards the Adriatic shelf. At the beginning of the postglacial transgression, a favorable conditions were established for the growth of tufa deposits in the form of barriers with waterfalls. Erosional power of the river was low during this period and fluvial to lacustrine sediments started to accumulate. With further sea level rise, at approx. 10000 y BP, the sea started to inundate the Prokljan Lake. This led to the cessation of tufa growth and the deposition of the estuarine muds with the establishment of the fully estuarine/marine salt-wedge conditions during the highstand (approx. 7500-7000 y BP). Our study revealed a very dynamic paleoenvironmental evolution of the estuary controlled by a rapid sea level rise, local geomorphology and hydrodynamics.

This thesis collects previous knowledge and information about palaeoenvironmental and archaeological situation in the area of Iran primarily from the Holocene Climatic Optimum period, sometimes called as Altithermal. Holocene Climatic Optimum is characterized by high temperatures and high intensity of atmospheric precipitation and it lasts from 9000 cal. BP to 5000-6000 cal. BP. The research work aims to map the process of the human settlement as a result of warm Climate Changes. This will be accomplished by making a contribution of Geoarchaeological and Palaeoclimatic proxies which are going to introduce and reconstruct forming conditions for the human settlement. Significant element of the thesis is identification of the Hunter-Gatherer societies and interception theirs agricultural transition. The most important area for this transition is Southwestern part of the Islamic Republic of Iran (Khuzestan Province, Lorestan Province, Ilam Province). The Zagros Mountains which "include" these Provinces will be subjected to the depth analysis.

This study revisits a collection of chipped stone artefacts from Mesolithic layers of Lepenski Vir (Iron Gate, Serbia). A sub-set of 909 items of a collection excavated back in the 1960s is re-examined macro- and microscopically, which showed that the raw material is predominantly represented by chert (70.7%) and quartzite (21.5%), whereas volcanic rocks (6.2%) and other rock types (1.7%) are subordinate. Artefacts made of volcanic rocks are rare but they gave us the opportunity to unravel the geological/volcanological context of the samples and to hypothesize about the source area. Among the volcanic material we distinguish two subgroups: a) pyroclastic rocks, mainly represented by devitrified welded tuffs and pieces of pyroclastic-fall and phreatomagmatic deposits, and b) coherent volcanic rocks, mostly as hypocrystalline to vitrophyric rhyolite and dacite-rhyodacite. A detailed volcanological interpretation of these artefacts, in combination with our field observations and knowledge about the regional geology, suggests, first, that this raw material derives from a complete volcanic succession, and second, that the only candidate for the source area is the Permian volcanic complex of Sirinia in Romania. If our volcanological arguments are robust, they imply that the Lepenski Vir residents had skills to cross the Danube and collect raw material at the opposite riverbank. Given the lack of direct evidence for the river crossing, this conclusion should be taken with caution. However, our study at least argues that many similar artefact collections may be worth of re-investigating and searching for possibly ‘hidden’ petrogenetic links among the rock types found as raw material.

Freshwater carbonates (tufa deposits) form during interglacial warm periods and can be used as a paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental indicators. Tufa deposits are typical features of the Dinaric karst of Croatia. In the Prokljan Lake, which is a part of the Krka River estuary located on the eastern Adriatic coast, several submerged tufa barriers were recognized. With the Holocene transgression, the Prokljan Lake drowned and the Krka River estuary was formed. We used detailed multibeam survey (MBES bathymetry and MBES backscatter), side scan sonar and subbottom acoustics to characterize the submerged paleolandscapes of the Prokljan Lake and the upper part of the estuary. The bathymetry and side scan data indicate that the submerged paleolandscape consist of partly burried tufa barriers, small lakes and carbonate mounds. Tufa barriers and carbonate mounds are distinguished on the backscatter data as strong reflectors. Ground truth data was provided in the form of 36 grab samples and seafloor images. Geomorphological and geological classification of the seabed were produced. Sediment samples were analyzed for grain size, magnetic susceptibility, mineral composition (XRD), bulk density and carbon and nitrogen concentrations. Five sediment cores were taken in the lake area and together with the high- resolution seismic profiles, enabled the identification of three sedimentary units: fluvial, brackish and marine. Tufa barriers were probably formed during the transition from the Pleistocene into the Holocene and had a predominant influence on the Holocene flooding of the Krka River canyon. Based on their geomorphology and depth in the Prokljan Lake, the flooding of the Krka River canyon started at approx. 9300 y BP. This multiproxy study allowed a reconstruction of the seabed geomorphology and paleoenvironmental evolution of the Prokljan Lake. The obtained data is also valuable for predicting the estuary response to the future sea level rise.

Member of the genus Sicista rank among the rarest and the least known European mammals. They exhibit a number of outstanding specificities (hibernation, aestivation etc.) and extreme capability of a rare range dynamics. Their fossil record is fragmentary and associated with numerous controversies. The present thesis summarizes results of a detailed revision of the fossil record of Sicista from Czech Republic, Slovakia and some other countries. It comprises of about 150 items of the Holocene and Vistualian age as well as from the Middle and Early Pleistocene including earliest records from MN17/Q1 boundary and type material of S. praeloriger from Q1 Betfia. Compared to a sample of extant population, variation dynamics of both metrical and nonmetrical dental traits was examined in details with particular attention to phenotype patterns of particular fossil samples. The results demonstrated extensive amount of both within- and between-population variation and rather limited validity of commonly used discrimination criteria of extant clades. Nevertheless, we succeeded in species identification of considerable part of numerous Holocene and Vistulian records which revealed (i) a range expansion of S. subtilis s.l. during MIS 3 with persistent distribution in lowland regions of Central Europe in the Late...

The environment is influenced by the ever changing system of interacting forces. Changes in the climate are amongst many crucial factors that determine life conditions on Earth. All organisms have to cope with the environmental changes and humans are no exception. This thesis is focused on description of climate changes during the Holocene geological epoch. The climate is delineated based on proxy datasets. South Bohemian proxy data, mainly tree ring chronology, are used as primary sources for the reconstruction of past climate. These proxy datasets are complemented by various climatic reconstructions covering the area of central Europe. In order to assess the connection of past human societies to climate, a comparison between climate and settlement proxies is conducted. As an example of the settlement proxies we can list relative population density and location of dwellings. Target populations are agricultural prehistoric and historic societies.

A multiproxy investigation has been carried out to study the seabed geomorphology of the Krka River estuary located in the central Dalmatia. A detailed multibeam survey (MBES bathymetry and MBES backscatter), side scan sonar imaging, subbottom acoustics coupled with piston sediment cores and bottom samples were used to characterize 6.2 km2 of submerged paleolandscape of the Krka River valley and the Prokljan Lake. The bathymetry and side scan sonar indicate that the submerged paleolandscape is well perserved and consists of partly buried tufa barrier system with small lakes and carbonate mounds. Geophysical survey consisted of a total of 70 km of seismic profiles, whereas 5 long (4–9 m long) piston sediment cores were collected in the lake area. We identified three sedimentary units, fluvial, brackish and marine, spanning up to 9000 y BP and with thickness up to 15 m. Ground truth data, in the form of grab samples and video transects, were collected at 36 locations in order to create geomorphological and geological classifications of the seabed. Sediment samples were processed for grain size, magnetic susceptibility, bulk density, carbon and nitrogen concetrations and mineralogical analysis. A map of seabed classification was produced using Object- Based Image Analysis (OBIA) by integrating information obtained from multibeam and ground truth data. Tufa barriers are unique karst features and great paleoclimate indicators. They enabled formation of lakes and had a predominant influence on the Holocene flooding of the river canyon. They can be used as an indicator of sea level given their morphology, i.e. depth of each barrier, in connection to the onset of marine sedimentation in the Lake. The results of this study reinforce the idea that submerged tufa barriers in the Prokljan Lake began forming during early Holocene or even during the transition from the Pleistocene into Holocene. Flooding of the river canyons (Guduča River and Krka River) due to sea level rise in the Prokljan Lake started at about 9300 y BP and the formation of estuary at approx. 7500 y BP. Consequently, this multiproxy study allowed a reconstruction of the seabed geomorphology and paleoenvironmental evolution of the upper part of the Krka estuary since the Holocene sea level rise. This work was supported by the Croatian Science Foundation Project “Sediments between source and sink during a late Quaternary eustatic cycle: the Krka River and the Mid Adriatic Deep System” (QMAD) (HRZZ IP04-2019- 8505).

Lake Ohrid, the oldest lake in Europe, is an ideal place to study the response of the terrestrial ecosystems to many climatic and environmental changes during the Quaternary. It is also a useful source of information regarding the interactions between man and environment during the Holocene - this applies especially to the Late Bronze Age period and the beginning of the Iron Age, when there were profound changes in landscape management and when lakeside settlements were suddenly abandoned, which is also evident in the palaeobotanical record. This work summarizes the existing knowledge on this issue and presents various possibilities for studying paleoenvironmental development in this area. Key words: Holocene - Lake Ohrid - paleoenvironmental reconstruction - settlement - Bronze Age

V sklopu raziskovalne naloge smo preučili dve jedri sedimentov Krnskega jezera, globoki 73 cm in 92 cm. Za obe jedri smo izdelali detajlni sedimentološki profil ter odvzeli vzorce za granulometrijsko analizo, za eno jedro pa smo odvzeli tudi vzorce za datiranje s pomočjo radionuklidov 210Pb in 226Ra. Iz sedimentološkega profila lahko ugotovimo, da sta obe jedri sestavljeni iz tankoplastovitih in laminiranih sedimentov. Plasti in lamine so sestavljene iz gline, glinastega melja, melja, peščenega melja ter peska v različnih odtenkih sive, ponekod nekoliko zelenkaste ter rjavkaste barve. Sediment je v nekaterih laminah in plasteh normalno gradiran. Prav tako v obeh jedrih najdemo veliko ostankov organskega materiala ter redkeje tudi posamezne večje klaste. Rezultati granulometrijske analize so pokazali, da v obeh jedrih močno prevladuje melj, medtem ko je v prvem jedru prisotnega nekoliko več peska, v drugem pa nekoliko več gline. V jedru KRN01 20 od 50 vzorcev predstavlja glinasto meljast pesek, ostalih 30 pa glinasto peščen melj. Največ peska se pojavi na globini 11 cm, in sicer 88% vzorca, melja na globini 67,5 cm s 83 % ter gline na globini 43 cm s 7,4% vzorca. V jedru KRN09 sedem vzorcev predstavlja glinasto meljast pesek, en vzorec meljasta glina, ostalih 62 pa glinasto peščen melj. Največ peska se pojavi na globini 2,5 cm in sicer 66% vzorca, melja na globini 57,5 cm s 86,9,% ter gline na globini 44 cm s 76,5% vzorca. Za jedro KRN09W smo izvedli datacijo vzorcev sedimenta s pomočjo radionuklidov 210Pb in 226Ra. Rezultati so pokazali, da je bila hitrost sedimentacije 0,072 cm ± 0,005 cm na leto, kar pomeni, da je jedro do globine 93 cm staro ~ 1292 let. Na podlagi detajlno posnetega profila jeder, strukture sedimenta, sedimentnih tekstur ter interpretacijskih diagramov CM (Passega 1964) sklepam, da je večino sedimentov nastalo z gravitacijskimi (najverjetneje turbiditnimi) tokovi. Le manjši del sedimenta (predvsem v jedru KRN09) se je usedal s prevladujočo pelagično sedimentacijo. Za sedimente Krnskega jezera je značilna tudi visoka vsebnost makroskopsko opazne organske snovi (organski drobir). Na podlagi makroskopskih opazovanj, ugotavljam, da gre večinoma za ostanke višjih kopenskih rastlin. Ta organski material je bil skupaj s sedimentom spran v jezero iz obal jezera in iz pojezerja. Glede na določeno povprečno starost jezerskih sedimentov bi se lahko grobozrnati sediment na globini 0-1 cm usedel kot posledica potresov (leti 1998 in 2004) ter tudi kot posledica velike količine padavin, kot na primer novembra 2000. Sediment na globini 4.5-5.5 pa lahko delno pripisujemo potresom leta 1942 in 1944. Vidna je tudi izrazita razlika v sedimentaciji v različnih delih jezera. Dno jezera je namreč sestavljeno iz dveh depresij, ki sta med seboj ločeni z grebenom. V depresiji, ki je proksimalna delti (jedro KRN01), se sedimentira bolj grobozrnata frakcija kot v distalni depresiji na severovzhodni strani jezera (jedro KRN09). Ti različni sedimentacijski pogoji tudi onemogočajo neposredno lateralno korelacijo obeh odvzetih vrtin. As a part of the research work, two cores of Krn Lake sediments, 73 and 92 cm deep, were analysed. Detailed sedimentological profiles were made for both cores and samples for granulometric analysis were taken. For one core, samples for dating were taken by using radionuclides 210Pb and 226Ra. Sedimentological profiles show that both cores consist of thin-layered and laminated sediments. They are composed of clay, clayey silt, silt, sandy silt and sand of gray, sometimes slightly greenish and brownish colour. Sediment is in some layers and in laminae normally graded. Inside some of the laminae in both cores, remains of organic material and individual dropstonescan be found. The results of granulometric analysis showed that the silt strongly dominates in both cores, with slightly more sand in the first and slightly more clay in the second core. In the core KRN01, 20 of the 50 samples represent clayey silty sand, and the other 30 clayey sandy silt. Most sand occurs at a depth of 11 cm, 88% of the sample, silt at a depth of 67.5 cm with 83% and clay at a depth of 43 cm with 7.4% of the sample. In the core KRN09, seven samples represent clayey silty sand, one sample silty clay, and other 62 samples clayey sandy silt. Most sand occurs at a depth of 2.5 cm, 66% of the sample, silt at a depth of 57.5 cm with 86.9% and clay at a depth of 44 cm with 76.5% of the sample. For the core KRN09W, sediment dating was performed by using radionuclides 210Pb and 226Ra. The results showed that sedimentation rate was 0,072 cm± 0,005 cm per year, meaning that the core at the depth of 93 cm is ~ 1292 years old. Based on a detailed profile of the cores, sediment structure, sediment textures, and CM interpretation diagrams (Passega 1964), I conclude that most sediments were formed by gravitational (most likely turbidite) flows. Only a small portion of the sediment (mainly in the KRN09 core) was deposited with predominant pelagic sedimentation. The sediments of Lake Krn are also characterized by a high content of macroscopically noticeable organic matter (organic debris). Based on the macroscopic observations, I find that these are mostly remnants of higher terrestrial plants. This organic material, along with a sediment, was washed into the lake from the shores of the lake and from the lake district. Based on a determined average age of lake sediments, coarse-grained sediment could settle at a depth of 0-1 cm as a result of the earthquakes, which happened in 1998 and 2004, and as a result of high rainfall, such as the one that occurred in November 2000. Sediment at a depth of 4.5-5.5 could be partly attributed to the earthquakes of 1942 and 1944. There is also a marked difference in sedimentation in different parts of the lake. The bottom of the lake consists of two depressions, which are separated by a ridge. In the depression that is proximal to the delta (core KRN01), a coarser-grained fraction is sedimented than in the distal depression on the northeast side of the lake (core KRN09). These different sedimentation conditions also preclude a direct lateral correlation of the two cores.

Skredavsetninger er vanlige i norske daler og fjorder. Studier av tidligere skredhendelser og skredavsetninger er viktig i arbeidet med skredfarevurderinger, da «naturlige» utløste skred ofte gjentar seg på steder der det tidligere har gått skred. Kunnskap om ulike skredavsetninger er viktig for vurdering av frekvensen av skredaktiviteten, utløpslengder, bevegelsesdynamikk og utløsningsmekanismer. Skred er en landskapsendrende prosess og er delt inn i ulike skredtyper: skred i fast fjell, snøskred og løsmasseskred. De ulike skredtypene kan gjenkjennes på bakgrunn av at skredavsetningene har hver sine karakteristiske geomorfologiske og sedimentære trekk i utløpssonen. I denne masteroppgaven er det gjennomført skredkartlegging i Korsmyrdalen, på strekningen mellom Korsmyra og Indreeide i Stranda og Fjord kommuner, Møre og Romsdal. For å studere de ulike skredprosessene i studieområdet er det utført morfologiske og sedimentære undersøkelser. Tolkning av skredavsetninger er basert på feltarbeid og studier av høyoppløselige høydemodeller og flyfoto. Resultatet av skredkartleggingen er presentert i to kartprodukter: et tradisjonelt kvartærgeologisk kart og et detaljert kvartærgeologisk kart med fokus på skråninger, i målestokk 1 :10 000. Schmidthammerdatering (SHD) er brukt for å konstruere en regional kronologi over skredaktiviteten i senglasial tid og holocen. Avsetninger av steinsprang, steinskred og snøskred er blitt kartlagt i Korsmyrdalen. Snøskred er mest dominerende langs den vestlige dalsiden og små steinskred og steinsprang langs den østlige dalsiden. SHD-aldre av skredavsetningene gir et aldersintervall fra 14 375 ± 1053 til -2936 ± 837 år. 38 SHD-aldre med deres 95% konfidensintervall indikerer en sammenheng mellom skredaktivitet og klima. Steinsprangaktiviteten var høy i bølling-allerød interstadial og yngre dryas etter at området ble isfritt. De første tusenårene etter deglasiasjonen i tidlig holocen økte tilsynelatende steinsprangaktiviteten som følge av paraglasiale forhold og høy jordskjelvaktivitet. Fra ~ 8 ka i midtre holocen var skredaktiviteten lav som trolig kan knyttes til et varmere klima. Etterfulgt av lav skredaktivitet i midtre holocen økte frekvensen av steinsprang og snøskred etter ~ 4 ka som følge av klimatiske forhold, og som respons på den neoglasiale veksten av isbreer som et resultat av mer snø og lenger snøsesong i fjellområdene. Sammenligning mellom skredhistorikken fra Storfjorden og med andre steder på Vestlandet indikerer at Korsmyrdalen gir et lignende skredmønster. De topografiske og klimatiske forholdene i studieområdet gjør at snøskred og steinsprang er aktive i dag. Avalanche deposits are common in Norwegian valleys and fjords. Studies of earlier avalanche events and their deposits are important for risk assessments, as “naturally” triggered avalanches often occur in areas where they have previously occurred in the past. Knowledge of avalanche deposits are important for estimating the frequency of avalanches, potential run-out lengths, dynamics and trigger mechanisms. Avalanches have distinctive effects on the landscape and are divided into different types: rockslide, snow avalanche and landslide. Each type has their own characteristic geomorphological and sedimentary features that can be recognized in the run-out zone. In this master’s thesis, mapping of avalanche deposits has been conducted in Korsmyrdalen between Korsmyra and Indreeide in Stranda and Fjord municipalities, Møre and Romsdal. The various kinds of avalanche in the study area has been examined based on morphological and sedimentary analysis. Avalanche deposits are interpreted based on fieldwork and studies of high-resolution elevation models and aerial photographs. The results of the avalanche mappings are presented in two maps: a traditional Quaternary geological map and a detailed Quaternary geological map in steep terrain with focus on mass movement processes, with a scale of 1: 10 000. In addition, Schmidt-hammer surface-exposure dating (SHD) is used to develop a regional chronology of avalanche activity during the Late Glacial and the Holocene. Deposits of rockfalls, rockslides and snow avalanches have been identified in Korsmyrdalen. Snow avalanches affect large parts of the western valley side and small rockslides and rockfalls along the eastern valley side. SHD-ages of the avalanche deposits ranged from 14 375 ± 1053 to -2936 ± 837 years. 38 SHD-ages with their 95% confidence interval indicates a correlation between avalanche activity and climate. Rockfall activity was high in the Bølling-Allerød interstadial and during Younger Dryas after the area became ice-free. It increased in the first millennia following the deglaciation in the early Holocene due to paraglacial conditions and high earthquake activity. After ~ 8 ka in the mid-Holocene, avalanche activity was low, which could be linked to a warmer climate. Following the low avalanche activity in the mid-Holocene, the frequency of rock falls and snow avalanches increased after ~ 4 ka due to climatic conditions and Neoglacial activity. Comparisons between the avalanche history from Storfjorden and other studies in Western Norway indicates that Korsmyrdalen has a similar avalanche pattern. The topographical and climatic conditions in the study area favour the occurrence of snow avalanches and rock falls today. Masteroppgave i geovitenskap GEOV399 MAMN-GEOV

Askestratigrafi er et mye brukt verktøy til kronostratigrafisk korrelering og datering. For vest-norske innsjøer er det tefrakronologiske rammeverket svært begrenset, og en etablering av en askestratigrafi derfra kan gi kunnskap om utbredelsen av tefralag. Innsjøen som er undersøkt er Myklevatnet i Ytre Nordfjord. Det er blitt tatt 14C dateringer fra kjernen som er brukt til å lage en aldersmodell, og aldersmodellen er videre sammenlignet med en tidligere undersøkt kjerne fra samme basseng. Sedimentasjonsraten viser store forskjeller ulike steder i samme basseng, og ulike faktorer som påvirker sedimentasjonsraten er viktig å ta hensyn til ved prøvetaking. Tefrapartikler er blitt identifisert visuelt ved mikroskopi, og deretter analysert geokjemisk med et Zeiss Supra 55 VP skanning elektron mikroskop (SEM). Flesteparten av de analyserte tefrapartiklene i telletoppene viser ingen tydelig kilde til tefraen, men én tefrapartikkel er korrelert til et opphav fra Askja 1875-utbruddet og én partikkel er korrelert til Eyjafjallajökull. Basert på mangel av utbrudd med stor nok utbredelse i tidsperioden tefrapartikkelen fra Eyjafjallajökull er funnet, kan ikke den bli korrelert opp til et spesifikt utbrudd. Tefrapartikkelen til Askja 1875 er blitt korrelert opp mot et spesifikt utbrudd, men en nøyaktig plassering i stratigrafien kan ikke fastslås basert på én tefrapartikkel. Flere av de resterende tefrapartiklene i dybdeintervallet 29-135 cm er tolket til å ha et opphav fra veddeasken. Dette er basert på både de geokjemiske analysene og det petrografiske. En rekke dateringer og analysemetoder er gjort ved siden av, og de er tolket med hensyn til klimavariasjoner. Den største anomalien er variasjonene i Mn/Ti som korrelerer bra med «den lille istid». Re-sedimentasjon av tefrapartikler, og påvirkningen endringer i dreneringsfeltet utgjør, er viktig basert på lokasjonen til veddeasken så høyt i stratigrafien. Mye tyder på at lokasjonen til kjernen gjør at mengden re-sedimentert tefra avsatt er høyere både før og etter «den lille istid». Partikkelstørrelse gjør at økt nedbør fører til en høyere videretransport av tefrapartikler. Masteroppgave i geovitenskap GEOV399 MAMN-GEOV

In the context of the entire Europe, the Western Carpathians is a unique area of priceless biological significance. Topological complexity, together with significant climatic and edaphic variability, is reflected in the high habitat heterogeneity and has enabled the survival of a large number of species in this area during the Quaternary climatic cycle. The Western Carpathians thus represents one of the most important glacial as well as interglacial refugium in Europe. The result of these environmental variables and the unique history of this region is an enormous species diversity, a high degree of endemism and the occurrence of many glacial relics. This bachelor's thesis contains a review of mainly zoological studies dealing with high biodiversity and degree of endemism in the Western Carpathians and its possible causes. The role of the Western Carpathians as an important Pleistocene refugium, its influence on other parts of Europe and the postglacial development of the area are discussed in individual chapters.

The aim for this master thesis was to construct a relative sea-level curve for the area of Skånland municipality, northern Norway. The relative sea-level curve is based on the results from bio- and litostratigraphic investigations of two basins, Store Trøsevatnet (73,5 m a.s.l.) and Svartvatnet (38,9 m a.s.l.), combined with results from previous work in the area. A simple type of phytoplankton analysis has been preformed on sediment cores from both basins, which is based on the fact that the composition of microscopic phytoplankton (green algae and dinoflagellate cysts) in the sediment reflects changes in the depositional environment (marine or fresh water). By using this method it was determined that Store Trøsevatnet did not qualify as an isolation basin, which indicates that the marine limit for the area must be located below 73,5 m a.s.l. For Svartvatnet, the results from the phytoplankton analysis were combined with the results from loss on ignition and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) scanning to determine the isolation contact. In total, six samples for radiocarbon dating were collected from Svartvatnet, and the isolation contact was dated to 9315 ± 100 calender years before present (cal. yr BP). One radiocarbon date was also preformed on basal sediments from Store Trøsevatnet, which gave an age of 10695 ± 205 cal. yr BP, and this represents the minimum age for when the area became deglaciated. To avoid problems related to the hard-water effect, terrestrial plant macrofossils were preferred for dating. However, two of the samples from Svartvatnet were preformed on marine material, which included a single shell of Macoma calcarea and unidentified shell fragments, respectively. Based on the results from the phytoplankton analysis, radiocarbon dating, and XRF-data, the brackish transitional phase in Svartvatnet seems to have been relatively short (2 cm), and represent a time period of about 180 years. This indicates that the rate of sea level regression was relatively fast (1,5 cm/yr) at the time of isolation. The finished sea-level curve shows an assumed high regression rate (on average 2,13 cm/yr) in the time between deglaciation and the isolation of Svartvatnet, followed by a flattening of the curve around 30 m a.s.l. during the period when the outer coastal regions experienced a transgression (around 9500 – 7500 cal. yr BP). The regression rate may then have increased somewhat towards around 4000 cal. yr BP, before dropping again towards the present time. Formålet med dette arbeidet var å konstruere en strandforskyvningskurve for Skånlandområdet i Troms basert på lito- og biostratigrafiske analyser av to mulige isolasjonsbassenger, i tillegg til resultater fra tidligere arbeid i området. Bassengene som er undersøkt i dette arbeidet er Svartvatnet (38,9 m o.h.), og Store Trøsevatnet (73,5 m o.h.). Kjerner fra begge bassengene gjennomgikk en enkel form for fytoplanktonanalyse, som baserer seg på at sammensetningen av mikroskopiske fytoplankton (grønnalger og dinoflagellatcyster) i sedimentet reflekterer endringer i avsetningsmiljøet (marint eller ferskvann). Ved bruk av denne metoden kom det frem at Store Trøsevatnet etter all sannsynlighet ikke er et isolasjonsbasseng, noe indikerer at den marine grensen for området ligger lavere enn 73,5 m o.h. For Svartvatnet ble fytoplanktonanalysen kombinert med resultater fra glødetapsanalyse, røntgenfluorescens (XRF) for å fastslå hvor i kjernen isolasjonskontakten lå.. Totalt ble det tatt ut 6 dateringer fra Svartvatnet for å kunne bestemme når isolasjonen av bassenget fant sted, og resultatet viste at bassenget ble isolert 9315 ± 100 kalender år før nåtid (kal. år BP). Det ble også tatt ut en datering fra Store Trøsevatnet, der resultatet viste 10965 ± 205 kal. år BP, og denne representerer en minimumsalder for når området ble isfritt. For å unngå problemer med hardvannseffekten ble det tatt ut terrestriske makrofossiler der dette var mulig, men ved to av prøvene fra Svartvatnet måtte det plukkes ut skjell (Macoma calcarea) og skjellfragmenter til dateringen. På bakgrunn av fytoplanktonanalysen, dateringer, og XRF-analysen er det indikert en relativt kort brakkvannsfase på 2 cm (tilsvarende ca. 180 år) for Svartvatnet, som indikerer en relativ rask regresjonsrate (1,5 cm/år) for området under isolasjonsfasen. Den ferdige strandforskyvningskurven viser en antatt høy regresjonsrate (i snitt 2,13 cm/år) i tiden mellom isavsmeltingen og isolasjonen av Svartvatnet, fulgt av en utflating rundt 30 m o.h. i perioden da de ytre kyststrøkene opplevde en transgresjon (ca. 9500-7500 kal. år BP). Deretter kan regresjonsraten ha økt noe fram mot ca. 4000 kal. år BP, før den igjen har sunket fram mot i dag. Masteroppgave i geografi GEO350 MPGEOGR MASV-GEOG MASV-PHYG MASV-MEHA