Objectives:
The course aims to give an introduction to Earth surface processes and paleoclimate, focusing on processes and climatic changes over the last few million years to present time (the Quaternary). This stage of earth history is characterized by great oceanic, climate and environmental changes, with changes between ice ages and interglacial periods. The course provides knowledge of geological, atmospheric and oceanic processes, and the driving forces that have influenced this stage of earth history in Norway and globally.
Content:
The course addresses topics such as the variation of oceanic circulation/water masses and wind systems during Quaternary, changes in ice dynamics and ice extent and associated sea level variations, landscape development and formation of land forms and deposits, development of the ocean basins and our continental margins, focusing on marine archives and sedimentary processes. A strong focus is put on interactions and feedbacks between different components of the climate system and how they have interacted with the Earth surface to shape the landscape we live in today. The course addresses basic approaches, equipment, and techniques typically used in exploration of both terrestrial and shallow marine areas. A focus will further be on how different Quaternary deposits are used to reconstruct the environment and climate of the past and to understand the process behind and the causes of the changes that have taken place. The students work on various assignments throughout the semester, using different tools to explore available and new data as well as information gained from literature.
On completion of the course the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:
Knowledge
The student can
Skills
The student can
General competence
The student can
- Presence during learning activities
- Reflection notes
Approved compulsory assignments are valid only in teaching semester.
Portfolio assessment:
- assignments
- field report with peer review
- group presentations
- quizzes
It is not possible to appeal the grade of this portfolio assessment. This is because a large part of the assessment in this course takes place orally in the classroom and would not be possible to reevaluate
The student coordinator can be contacted here:
Studierettleiar@geo.uib.no