651-3561-00L Cryosphere
Semester | Autumn Semester 2020 |
Lecturers | M. Huss, A. Bauder, D. Farinotti |
Periodicity | yearly recurring course |
Language of instruction | German |
Abstract | The course introduces the different components of the cryosphere - snow, glaciers, ice sheets, sea ice and lake ice, and permafrost - and their respective roles in the climate system. For each subsystem, essential physical aspects are emphasized, and their dynamics are described quantitatively and using examples. |
Objective | Students are able to - qualitatively explain relevant processes, feedbacks and relationships between the different components of the cryosphere, - quantify and interpret physical processes, which determine the state of the cryospheric components, with simple calculations. |
Content | The course provides an introduction into the various components of the cryosphere: snow, glaciers, ice sheets, sea ice and lake ice, permafrost, and their roles in the climate system. Essential physical aspects are emphasized for each subsystem: e.g. the material properties of ice, mass balance and dynamics of glaciers, or the energy balance of sea ice. |
Lecture notes | Handouts will be distributed during the teaching semester |
Literature | Benn, D., & Evans, D. J. (2014). Glaciers and glaciation. Routledge. Cuffey, K. M., & Paterson, W. S. B. (2010). The physics of glaciers. Academic Press. Hooke, R. L. (2019). Principles of glacier mechanics. Cambridge University Press. Further literature will be indicated during the lecture. |