GG33920 - PALAEOGLACIOLOGY

Module Identifier

GG33920

Module Title

PALAEOGLACIOLOGY

Academic Year

2004/2005

Co-ordinator

Dr Neil F Glasser

Semester

Semester 1

Other staff

Professor Michael J Hambrey, Dr Poul Christoffersen

Pre-Requisite

GG23910

Course delivery

Lecture

20 Hours

Seminars / Tutorials

4 Hours

Assessment

Assessment Type	Assessment Length/Details	Proportion
Semester Assessment	Poster presentation	20%
Semester Assessment	Poster abstract	10%
Semester Assessment	Seminar presentation	20%
Semester Assessment	Extended essay	50%

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Evaluate and define the concept of palaeoglaciology and its global and scientific significance

2. Demonstrate knowledge of the principles of palaeoglaciology and the fundamentals of ice sheet reconstruction

3. Identify key glacial landforms and their palaeoglaciological significance

4. Assess the landforms and sedimentary criteria applicable to interpreting Quaternary and older glacial successions

5. Evaluate the full range of glacier types and thermal regimes of former ice sheets

6. Demonstrate knowledge of the complexity of processes operating in a range of glacial environments

7. Appreciate the role of palaeoglaciology in ice mass reconstruction

8. Synthesize relevant literature, and produce a high-quality written report outlining a current scientific debate in palaeoglaciology

9. Design and produce a conference-style poster on a palaeoglaciology topic

10. Give an oral presentation explaining the aims, content and design of a poster

Brief description

The module will first introduce the students to the fundamentals of palaeoglaciology and the nature of the evidence from which former ice sheets may be reconstructed. Subsequent lectures will provide students with the full details of this evidence and explain how existing and former glaciers and their sedimentary products can be researched and interpreted.

Content

Introduction: Defining palaeoglaciology: the nature of ice sheet beds; glaciers and their sedimentary products; glacial sediments in the geological record (MJH)

Debris distribution in glaciers: sediment textural characteristics; the importance of glacier thermal regime and tectonic setting (MJH)

Landforms of glacial erosion and palaeoglaciology (NFG)

Analysis of glacial sediments: Facies analysis; textural classification of poorly sorted sediments; genetic classification of glacial deposits; methods of analysis of glacial sequences (MJH)

Glacier landform - sediment associations 1: dry-based glaciers (NFG)

Glacier landform - sediment associations 2: wet based glaciers (NFG)

Glacier landform - sediment associations 3: polythermal glaciers (NFG)

Glaciomarine sedimentation: fjords: Sources of glaciomarine sediment: marine processes in fjords; patterns and rates of sedimentation; fjordal facies and facies associations; depositional features in fjords; case studies of East Greenland (Scoresby Sound) and Antartica (Ferrar Fjord, Lambert Glacier) (MJH)

Glaciomarine sedimentation - continental margins: Glacier-ocean interactions; sedimentation and erosion on glacier-influenced continental shelves and slopes; shelf facies associations; case study of the evolution of the Antartic continental margin from offshore drilling and seismic surveying (MJH)

Reconstructing former glacier and ice sheets from glacial geomorphological and sedimentological evidence (NFG)

Reading Lists

Books
** Recommended Text
Bennett, M.R. and Glasser, N.F. (1996) Glacial Geology: Ice Sheets and Landforms John Wiley, Chichester
Benn, D.I. and Evans, D.J.A. (1998) Glaciers and Glaciation Arnold, London
Dowdeswell, J.A. & O'Cofaigh, C. (ed) (1990) Glacier influenced Sedimentation on high-latitude continental margins, Geological Society Special Publication
Hambrey, M.J. (1994) Glacial Environments UCL Press
Hambrey, M.J. and Alean, J. (2004) Glaciers Cambridge University Press

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6