Entry requirements

120 credits with Earth Science - Planet Earth 30 credits and Rocks and Quaternary Deposits 10 credits.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• explain the basic physical principles in glaciology and glacial geology
• assess the impact of climate on glacier mass balance, movement and extent through indirect and direct feedback mechanisms
• draw conclusions about how today's glaciers in various regions are affected and will be affected by climate variability and its impact on future sea level changes
• apply glaciological hypotheses on the intreaction with the geosphere and the processes that form a glacial landscape and draw conclusions about ancient ice sheets and glacier properties from glacial geomorphology
• explain and examine glaciological methods used in research today

Content

The course will review different topics within glaciology and glacial geology, such as: glacial mechanics, climatology and glacial mass balance, thermodynamics, glacial hydrology and glacial meteorology; external and internal feedback mechanisms between glaciers and the climate; the effects of climate change and sea-level changes; ice cores as climate archives and climate history through the last glacial period; glacial landforms and their associated processes, glaciological methods and current issues.

Instruction

The course is given in the form of lectures, seminars and computer exercises. Attendance in seminars and computer exercises is obligatory.

Assessment

The course is graded based on a written examination 5 credits and compulsory activities 5 credits.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the disability coordinator of the university.