Ice Of The Earth - Glaciology

Timetable

Hello there, ice enthusiasts! My name is Jakub, and I'm a glaciologist and science communicator with many years of experience in the Arctic, Antarctica and some high mountains.

If you wish to expand your understanding of climate change's impact on ice, join me for the course, which will be held in April and May 2027! Subscribe to the course early during the summer semester and send me an email with your availability once you know it. 

The exact timing of our meetings will be agreed with you (and all your classmates) in February or March 2027 - the goal is to maximise your presence during the classes. We will strive to make the course beginner-friendly, featuring lectures on ice and practical exercises on laptops using basic software. I aim for meetings lasting ca. 3 hours twice a week on days that suit most students. 

The course will be held in the Collegium Geographicum building on Morasko campus.

Module aim (aims)

Climate change has been severely impacting global ice cover over the past decades, causing a sharp decline in ice both on land and in the oceans. This change poses risks for billions of people worldwide, making it crucial to understand ice-related processes and their consequences in order to prevent the collapse of the global cryosphere.

This course is intended for students interested in environmental sciences, particularly in how climate change affects Earth’s ice. It aims to introduce the most fundamental topics in glaciology, including the role of glaciers in the Earth system, their interactions with the climate and oceans, the main components of glacier mass balance, and the basic concepts of glacier motion.

The course is taught by an active glaciologist and science communicator with two decades of experience studying Arctic glaciers. It offers an opportunity to deepen your understanding of major climate-change impacts—whether or not glaciers exist in your home country—because the influence of melting ice extends far beyond national borders.

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

The course is primarily dedicated to environmental science students at bachelor and master level, although interested PhD-level students are also encouraged to apply. Basic background in physical geography is recommended.

Syllabus

Syllabus: Ice on the Earth - Glaciology
[Class 1] Introduction and course content
[Class 2] What controls global temperature?
[Class 3] Sea ice
[Class 4] Snow
[Classes 5-7] Glacier mass balance
[Classes 8-11] Glacier energy balance, temperature, hydrology and dynamics
[Classes 12-14] Glaciers, ice sheets and their interactions with ocean and climate

Reading list

Suggested textbook: Glaciers and Glaciation, Benn & Evans 2011 (or earlier) - in case of no availability, please use any relevant textbook.
Information on where to find course materials: Textbooks may be found in the library of the Faculty of Geosciences AMU