Course Syllabus
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| Semester & Location: |
Summer 2024, Session 2 - DIS Copenhagen |
| Type & Credits: |
Core Course - 3 Credits |
| Study Tour: |
Iceland |
| Major Disciplines: |
Environmental Science, Geography, Geology |
| Prerequisites: |
One mathematics course at university level. |
| Faculty Members: |
Sebastian F.J. Zastruzny |
| Time & Place: |
Mon - Fri, 9:00 - 12:00 + Field study days |
Course Description
The response of the arctic environment to future climate remains a large source of uncertainty in projections of the future climate.
This course will provide students with a basic understanding of the processes controlling Earth's climate, with a focus on the arctic region. We will cover topics like glacier movement, the transformation from snow to ice, permafrost conditions and their respective roles in the climate system.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course you will be able to
- Understand the core concepts of Earth’s processes, such as the energy balance, the hydrological cycle and the role of glaciers in the global climate system.
- Identify and describe the processes that determine/govern the shape of glaciers
- Recognize, understand and interpret geomorphological features of peri glacial landscapes
- Apply the notion of time scales when discussing the effects of different climate phenomena
- Discuss climate conditions as a key factor in the evolution of modern civilization
- Create arguments in both oral, and written form, to explain the concept of climate change.
Faculty
Sebastian Zastruzny
PhD (Geography-Geosciences, University of Copenhagen). Educated in permafrost dynamics at the Centre for Permafrost, IGN. Research on permafrost cores, water samples, climate data series, process based modelling, and effects of future climate change. Conducted fieldwork and taught field courses in Greenland and Denmark multiple times.
Readings
Main textbooks:
French, H. M. (2017). The periglacial environment. John Wiley & Sons.
William F. Ruddiman: Earth’s Climate Past and Future, 3rd edition, 2013 (EC)
Grotzinger, J., & Jordan, T. H. (2014) Understanding Earth. (UE)
Other required texts:
IPCC, 2023: Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report.
IPCC, 2022: IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate [H.-O. Pörtner, D.C. Roberts, V. Masson-Delmotte, P. Zhai, M. Tignor, E. Poloczanska, K. Mintenbeck, A. Alegría, M. Nicolai, A. Okem, J. Petzold, B. Rama, N.M. Weyer (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK and New York, NY, USA, 755 pp. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009157964.
AMAP, 2017. Snow, Water, Ice and Permafrost in the Arctic (SWIPA) 2017. Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP), Oslo, Norway. xiv + 269 pp.
Readings and Assignments:
Topics will be introduced in class to lay the foundations for the understanding of a topic. Each class has accompanying reading material allowing the students to follow up on the material covered in the classroom and to gain a deeper understanding.
Format
Lectures, group work, discussions, field studies, student projects and presentations.
Study Tour
Students will travel to Iceland, where they will study the glaciers first-hand. Planned activities include the hike on a glacier and terminal moraines at Vatnajökull, a visit to the glacier tunnel in Langjökull glacier and periglacial streams and features along the way. Furthermore, students will interact with local researchers who monitor and model the glaciers and study how glaciers have shaped the landscape of South Iceland.
Evaluation
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:
Grading
Student Report (25%): During the first part of the course we will have several assignments evaluating the climatic conditions, glacial movement and geomorphological development of a region. The individual assignments will be joined in a final report, requiring the student to integrate theory from the classes and apply it on concrete evidence.
Iceland Field Journal (25%):
Medium report written in groups of three students reporting on the visited stops of the excursion to Iceland and a short section covering the theories linked to the visits. The report will graded based on scientific correctness, completeness of requirements and presentation.
Poster Presentation (25%):
Scientific poster and presentation, based on a larger student project prepared in groups that uses knowledge gained during the assignments in a larger context. The poster presentation will graded based on scientific correctness, completeness of requirements and presentation.
Participation (25%):
We expect and encourage active participation in class, on the field trips, and in online activities. Active participation consists of...
- being a part of the discussions by asking/answering
- contributing to group work
- working on the assignments/exercises
- presenting results in class
Academic Regulations
Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on:
Course Summary:
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