GG32330 - THE QUATERNARY HISTORY OF SVALBARD (UNIS)

Module Identifier

GG32330

Module Title

THE QUATERNARY HISTORY OF SVALBARD (UNIS)

Academic Year

2007/2008

Co-ordinator

Professor Neil F Glasser

Semester

Semester 1

Course delivery

Lecture

35 hours of lectures

Seminars / Tutorials

25 hours of seminars/group work with field exercises

Assessment

Assessment Type	Assessment Length/Details	Proportion
Semester Exam	WRITTEN 3 HOUR EXAM	60%
Semester Assessment	ASSESSED TERM PROJECT (WRITTEN REPORT AND ORAL PRESENTATION)	40%
Supplementary Assessment	AS ABOVE	100%

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

Describe and explain the long-term climatic fluctuations between glacial and interglacial periods in the Arctic and former climatic conditions on Svalbard
Evaluate Quaternary landscape evolution, and the corresponding sedimentary record of Svalbard, in the light of Quaternary environment change
Discuss the role of postglacial relative land uplift and the formation of raised marine coastal sequences
Assess the relative importance of geomorphological processes active during glacial and interglacial periods to the formation of tills, glaciofluvial deposits, lacustrine deposits and landforms produced during deglaciation
Select and justify the application of different field methods and data interpretation techniques (including field mapping) to the study Quaternary of landscape change

Brief description

Students will be introduced to the Quaternary history of Svalbard, within the context of long-term climatic fluctuations between glacial and interglacial periods in the Arctic. The module will explain the Quaternary landscape evolution and sedimentary record of the Svalbard.

Content

Climate variations within the Arctic, including long-term climatic fluctuations between glacial and interglacial periods in the Arctic.

Quaternary landscape evolution and the sedimentary record of Svalbard.

The formation of glacial and interglacial sedimentary sequences during the last glacial/interglacial cycle

Postglacial relative land uplift and raised marine coastal sequences.

Tills, glaciofluvial deposits, lacustrine deposits and landforms produced during deglaciation.

Field methods, including mapping techniques and methods of data interpretation.

Module Skills

Problem solving	Problem solving is addressed during fieldwork .
Research skills	Research skills are developed during fieldwork, and in subsequent report writing .
Communication	For the assessed term project, students complete both a written report and an oral presentation .
Improving own Learning and Performance	Developed during fieldwork and in private study.
Team work	Team work is developed during fieldwork, and in subsequent report writing.
Information Technology	Library usage of journal papers and web-searches will be undertaken. Students will use Web of Knowledge and other electronic data retrieval packages in literature searches.
Application of Number	Not directly developed.
Personal Development and Career planning	Not directly developed.
Subject Specific Skills	Fieldwork skills, including data collection and analysis

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6