651-1506-00L The High-Mountain Cryosphere: Processes and Risks (University of Zurich)
Semester | Spring Semester 2016 |
Lecturers | University lecturers |
Periodicity | yearly recurring course |
Language of instruction | English |
Comment | No enrolment to this course at ETH Zurich. Book the corresponding module directly at UZH. UZH Module Code: GEO856 Mind the enrolment deadlines at UZH: Link |
Abstract | Part I: Hazards in glacierized high-mountain regions Hazard assessments in cold high-mountain areas with respect to glaciers and permafrost. Part II: Paleoglaciology Ice-related aspects of the recent earth and climate history (Ice Age, Holocene, 20. century): reconstruction/modeling of past glaciers/ice sheets and interpretation of information from ice cores. |
Objective | Part I: Hazards in glacierized high-mountain regions Knowledge about integrative hazard assessment techniques in high-mountain areas under conditions of climate change. Part II: Paleoglaciology Understanding of the role of glaciers and ice sheets in the climate system through time since the last Ice Age; knowledge of corresponding reconstruction techniques and of the glaciological basis for ice core interpretation. |
Content | Part I: Natural hazards in glacierised mountain regions - Introduction and instruction e-learning, Hazard/risk concepts - Introduction to Part II, Paleoglaciology - e-learning glacier floods and ice avalanches - Comments on glacier floods, Comments on ice avalanches, climate-induced glacier changes - Recent case studies - Application of remote sensing, Principles and applications of numerical mass movement models - Glacier-clad volcanoes - Feedbacks on exercises and test Part II: Paleoglaciology 2-day block course (Friday and Saturday) Including written test on Paleoglaciology, Subjects include: - Former glaciers/ice sheets: outlines and geometry - Former glaciers/ice sheets: flow, mass turnover, temperature, etc. - Former glaciers/ice sheets: changes in time - Ice cores: archive (embedding) characteristics - Ice cores: Information carriers, polar und alpine examples - Nuclear waste disposal and ice ages, climate change and sea level |
Lecture notes | Paleoglaciology (about 100p.) Hazards in glacierized high-mountain regions (about 100p.) available at the Geography Department, University of Zurich |
Literature | rich reference list in lecture notes |
Prerequisites / Notice | Precondition - Getscher und Permafrost (651-4073-00) |