autumn 2017 GEO-3111 Reconstructing Quaternary Marine Climate and Environments - 10 ECTS

Application deadline

Single course applicants from Nordic countries: 1st June for the fall semester.

Applicants from outside the Nordic countries: 15th April for the fall semester.


Type of course

This course is available as a single course.

Admission requirements

Bachelor's degree in geology, or a similar degree following a programme of study of at least three years duration, or similar education approved in accordance with the Norwegian Universities Act section 3-4. In addition, specialization in geology worth the equivalent of at least 80 ECTS credits is required. Normally, an average mark of C or better is required at the bachelor's degree level or other programme for basis of admission. Application code: 9371.

Course content

The course aims to give an understanding of the causes of natural climate change during the Earth's history. It is focused on the last interglacial-glacial cycle, a period characterised by major and abrupt climate changes. A systematic treatment is given of different geological methods used for reconstructing the marine palaeoenvironment and climate history during the Quaternary. This includes methods and interpretations based on lithological, geochemical and biological data, as well as dating methods and stratigraphical principles. Special attention is given to microfossils and geochemical proxies. The course includes field studies and sampling in the Tromsø area.

Recommended prerequisites

GEO-2003 Quaternary geology

Objectives of the course

The course aims to give students an understanding of the causes of natural climate change during the Earth's history.

Language of instruction and examination

English.

Teaching methods

30 hours lectures, 44-50 hours exercises, and cruise work.

Assessment

4 hours written examination. Grading scale: Letter grades A-F, whereof F is fail. Admittance to the examination requires approved course work and field report. There will not be arranged a re-sit exam for this course.

Recommended reading/syllabus

Pensum list GEO-3111, Autumn 2017:

 

Textbook:

Bradley, R.S., 2015. Paleoclimatology, Reconstructing Climates of the Quaternary, Third edition, ISBN: 978-0-12-386913-5

 

Selected chapters:

 

Chapter 1: Paleoclimate reconstruction, p. 1-11, 11 pp.

 

Chapter 2: Climate and climatic variation, p. 13-54, 42 pp.

 

Chapter 3: Dating methods I, p. 55-91, 37 pp.

 

Chapter 4: Dating methods II, section 4.3, p. 125-129, 5 pp.

 

Chapter 5: Ice cores, p. 137-194, 58 pp.

Chapter 6: Marine sediments, p. 195-277, 83 pp.

 

 

Plus lecture handouts, various articles, and selected chapters from other books

 

 

Ruddiman, W.F., 2001. Earth¿s Climate. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York, USA. Chapter 11: Orbital-scale changes in carbon dioxide and methane p. 234-253. 20 pp

 

Lowe and Walker, 1998 edition, p. 324-339,

Lowe and Walker, 2014 edition, p. 413-443.

 

Scientific papers:

 

S.P. Jessen, Rasmussen, T.L., Nielsen, T., Solheim, A., 2010. A new Late Weichselian and Holocene marine chronology for the western Svalbard slope 30,000 - 0 cal years BP. Quaternary Science Reviews 29, 1301-1312. doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2010.02.020. 12 pp

 

Slubowska-Woldengen, M., Rasmussen, T.L., Koç, N., Klitgaard-Kristensen, D., Nilsen, F., Solheim, A., 2007. Advection of Atlantic Water to the western and northern Svalbard shelves through the last 17.5 ka cal yr BP. Quaternary Science Reviews 26, 463-478. 16 pp

 

Rasmussen, T.L., Thomsen, E., ¿lubowska, M.A,. Jessen, S., Solheim, A., Koç, N., 2007.

Paleoceanographic evolution of the SW Svalbard margin (76°N) since 20,000 14C yr BP. Quaternary Research, 67, 100-114. 15 pp

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  • About the course
  • Campus: Tromsø |
  • ECTS: 10
  • Course code: GEO-3111