Course Syllabus
Arctic Glaciology |
 |
| Semester & Location: |
Spring 2024 - DIS Copenhagen |
| Type & Credits: |
Elective Course - 3 credits |
| Major Disciplines: |
Environmental Science, Geology, Geography |
| Prerequisite: |
One mathematics course at university level |
| Faculty Members: |
Inger Seierstad |
| Time & Place: |
Mondays and Thursdays 13:15 - 14:35, F24-403 |
Description of course
In this course students will study the behavior of glaciers. Students will learn about glacier mass balance, the transformation from snow to ice, ice flow, glacier models, ice core science and basal processes. These are tools needed to investigate the role of glaciers in the climate system. This course focuses on the Arctic glaciers. The motivation for this is the fact that projected future climate changes indicate a larger temperature increase over the Arctic than at lower latitudes. This increases the vulnerability of glaciers located in this particular region. Furthermore, Denmark has historic relations to Greenland and for that reason Denmark has for decades played a major role in the research on the Greenland ice sheet.
Learning objectives of the course
By the end of this course students should be able to
- Identify and describe the processes that determine/govern the mass balance of glaciers
- Identify and describe the processes that determine/govern the shape of glaciers
- Explain key processes of importance when modeling glaciers
- Identify areas of uncertainty in the contribution from glaciers to future sea-level rise.
- Explain the role of the Arctic glaciers in global climate change
- Distinguish different types of glaciers
- Recognize significant features of glaciers and the processes that formed them
- Explain and describe several methods used to study the state of glaciers today
Faculty
Inger Kathrine Seierstad, MSc in Geology-Geophysics (University of Copenhagen). Educated within glaciology at Centre for Ice and Climate, Niels Bohr Institute, which is a world-leading research group in ice core science. Inger has done research on ice cores, past climate change, volcanic deposits in ice, stable isotopes and stratigraphic dating of ice cores. Participated in ice-core drillings in Greenland and Antarctica multiple times. With DIS since 2018.
Readings
All readings are provided by DIS through the Canvas course page. No textbook will need to be picked up during orientation. Main readings come from the following sources:
Textbooks (abbreviations used in the lecture plan are in parentheses):
Benn and Evans (B&E): Glaciers and Glaciations, 2nd edition, 2010.
Barry and Gan (B&G): The Global Cryosphere: Past, Present and Future, 2011.
Cuffey and Paterson (C&P): The Physics of Glaciers, 4th edition, 2010.
P. Knight (Knight): Glaciers, 1999.
Hambrey and Alean (H&A): Glaciers, 2nd edition, 2004.
S. Marshall (Marshall): The Cryosphere, 2012.
Other sources:
AMAP, 2021. AMAP Arctic Climate Change Update 2021: Key Trends and Impacts. Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP), Tromsø, Norway. viii+148pp
IPCC, 2019: IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2022.
Bingham and Siegert: Radio-Echo Sounding Over Polar Ice Masses, JEEG, March 2007, Volume 12, Issue 1, pp. 47–62.
Björnsson et al.: Surges of glaciers in Iceland, Annals of Glaciology 36, 82-90, 2003.
Grindsted et al.: Sea level rise projections for northern Europe under RCP8.5, Clim Res Vol. 64: 15–23, 2015.
Pattyn: GRANTISM: An ExcelTM model for Greenland and Antarctic ice-sheet response to climate changes, Computers & Geosciences 32 (2006) 316–325.
Shepherd et al.: A Reconciled Estimate of Ice-Sheet Mass Balance, Science (338), 2012.
Zwally et al.: Mass gains of the Antarctic ice sheet exceed losses, Journal of Glaciology, Vol. 61, No. 230, 2015 doi: 10.3189/2015JoG15J071
Course Structure:
The plan of topics and assignments is found below, and readings etc. are updated on the Canvas course page. Assigned readings and other details on the meetings are subject to change but will be updated online with as much notice as possible.
Approach to Teaching
Lectures, class discussions, group work, computer exercises, field studies, and student projects.
Field studies
During the semester, there will be two field studies. We will visit local research institutions where cutting edge research in the fields of glaciology and climate science is taking place. We will also explore the development of glaciers in recent decades through hands-on exercises where students use real data to gain a deeper understanding of glacier behavior. Please see the calendar below regarding date and time.
Grading
To be eligible for a passing grade in this class you must complete all of the assigned work. The overall grade will come from the following:
Participation (20%): Students are expected to participate in all classes and field studies. Furthermore, active participation in class is required in order to get a good grade for participation. Examples of active student participation: read the required material before each class, volunteer to sum up key points from last class (2-3 min), ask questions about readings, lectures etc., start and/or participate in class discussions relating to the subjects treated and generally contribute to a relaxed and inquisitive learning environment.
2 written tests (40%): During the semester, there will be two written tests each to be completed during ~30 min of class time. The tests will consist of short text questions and multiple choice questions based on readings and class discussions.
Glacier Model Assignment (10%): During the semester, students will work on a simple mass balance model of a glacier. In the Glacier Model Assignment, students will hand in 1-2 pages of text and a couple of graphs where they explain the concept of their model.
Final Glacier Assignment (30%): Towards the end of the semester, students will start working on their final glacier assignments. In the assignment, students will use the knowledge they acquired during the semester to analyze a glacier from aerial photos and mass balance data.
Academic Regulations
Use of electronic devices: Laptops, phones and other portable electronic devices can be used for taking notes if in silent mode, but please refrain from writing or checking e-mail and text messages, browsing, or using social media during class hours. During student presentations and group work, we kindly ask you to turn off or put electronic devices away (unless the group work requires the use of electronic devices).
Recording devices: Please note that recording of classes is not allowed, unless approved by Faculty prior to class.
Engaged Participation: Focused and constructive contribution in class discussions is encouraged and expected. If you feel tired, feel free to get up and walk around in the back of the classroom.
Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on:
DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia - www.DISabroad.org
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
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