Module GEOL2357: Earth System and Climate: The Quaternary

Department: Earth Sciences

GEOL2357: Earth System and Climate: The Quaternary

Prerequisites

• None.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• GEOL3407: Earth System and Climate: The Quaternary

Aims

• To introduce the interconnectivity between different components of the Earth System and their relevance to climate, with a focus on modern and Pleistocene climate change and its causes.

Content

• Cycles of climate change: evidence and explanations.
• Understanding present and past climates: moving heat around, forcing functions and feedback, the evidence.
• Atmospheric circulation and hurricanes.
• Understanding the cryosphere - how ice sheets work.
• Milankovitch/Croll pacemaker.
• Evidence for rapid climate change.
• Climate change on geological timescales.
• Radiometric dating of last glacial materials.
• Human/climate interactions.
• Climate archives and proxies.
• The rock record and ancient glaciations.

Learning Outcomes

• To describe with reference to boundary and threshold conditions the processes governing present and past climates.
• To describe how cryosphere and carbon dynamics influence global climate.
• To critically evaluate the geological proxies for climate change.
• To critically evaluate current hypotheses for rapid climate change.
• To critically evaluate the value of solid Earth and general circulation models in climate simulation, hypothesis generation and testing.
• Will have acquired subject knowledge and understanding in geological principles, terms, definitions and classifications.
• Will have acquired subject knowledge and understanding in the Earth systems science.

• Will have acquired intellectual and practical skills to synthesise information/data from a variety of sources.
• Will have acquired intellectual and practical skills to analyse, evaluate/interpret geological data.

• Evaluate performance.
• Receive, respond to and critically evaluate a variety of information and data sources.
• Communicate effectively in written and graphical form.
• Scientific writing.
• Prepare, process and interpret data using appropriate qualitative and quantitative techniques.
• Use the internet critically in communication and an information source.
• Identify individual and collective goals.
• Recognise and respect the views of other team members.
• Time series analysis.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• The module is delivered through a series of flexible 2-hour class meetings which will be supported by asynchronous lectures, discussions, and practical exercises, supported by, directed reading and web and computer-based assignments.
• The discussions and exercises form an important component of the module encouraging learning and experience of tackling and solving problems individually in class, on-line and in groups.
• Guidance on preparation, key skills and essay skills is provided.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Formative exercises will be conducted and feedback delivered as part of in-person sessions.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University