GE477 Glaciers and Ecology

Contents and structure

Glaciers are rapidly responding to changes in temperature and precipitation and are therefore good indicators of climate change. This course provides knowledge about glacier mass balance and dynamics and how climate affects glacier behaviour. Students will learn about glacier ecosystems and glacial impacts upon downstream ecosystems.

The module builds on the bedrock geological and sedimentological understanding of From Mountain to Fjord - module 1 (GE476 Geological Aspects of Western Norway) and provides the basis for the interpretations to be performed in From Mountain to Fjord - module 3 (GE478 Fjord Processes).

Learning Outcome

Knowledge: students will gain insights into

• processes governing glacier mass balance and dynamics
• methods used to monitor glaciers and glacier behaviour
• glacier-response to climate change
• glacial erosion and deposition
• glacier ecosystems and glacial impacts upon downstream ecosystem

Skills: students will be able to

• conduct simple fieldwork related to glaciology or glacial-geomorphology
• use field measurements/observations to quantify glacier mass balance
• qualitatively assess how glaciers respond to climate change

General competence: The student can

• read and understand scientific articles about glaciers and glacier ecosystems
• summarize and communicate research objectives, methods and findings in written reports and oral presentations

Entry requirements

None

Recommended previous knowledge

90 ECTS within earth sciences or environmental sciences or life sciences or similar study directions at the time of application (15th of April for foreign students). The course builds on GE-476 Geological Aspects of Western Norway (From Mountain to Fjord - module 1).

Teaching methods

Lectures, group work, and exercises. The course includes three days of excursions.

Students have to be prepared to pay for their food during fieldwork and excursions according to the HVL rules and regulations on accommodation and travel expenses.

Compulsory learning activities

To qualify for the final exam, students need to have approved

• one written report from a field excursion (group)
• one written summary and oral presentation of a scientific paper (group)

Attendance at field excursions is mandatory.

Assessment

Written examination under supervision, 4 hours. Grading A-F

Examination support material

• Calculator
• Dictionaries in the international participant's native language.

More about examination support material

Course reductions

• GE477 - Økologiske- og overflateprosessar - Reduction: 10 studypoints