Unit information: Cryosphere 3 in 2014/15

Unit name	Cryosphere 3
Unit code	GEOG35200
Credit points	20
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Professor. Tony Payne
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	GEOG25040 Cryosphere 2
Co-requisites	Other year 3 pathways
School/department	School of Geographical Sciences
Faculty	Faculty of Science

Description including Unit Aims

The unit aims to give students a full understanding of the major biogeochemical, microbiological and physical processes that prevail in ice sheets, with an emphasis on wider global impacts. The latter includes topics such as the impact of future climate change on ice sheet mass balance, alongside implications of climate warming for ice-sheet ecosystems and global biogeochemical cycles. In particular, it considers the relatively recent idea that ice sheets and the cryosphere more generally can be considered as a “biome”. The element covers theoretical and observational work, on glacier hydrology, ice dynamics, hydrochemistry, microbiology and biogeochemistry. biogeochemistry/microbiology and the physical glaciology topics comprise different, but complementary, elements of the unit. Field measurement, numerical modelling and laboratory studies are a major theme of the unit.

Structure and content (including sub-elements)

Element 1: Ice Sheets and global biogeochemical cycles (8 lectures, 3 hrs practical)

1. Ice Sheets as a biome
2. Microbial communities on ice sheet surfaces
3. Microbial communities beneath ice sheets
4. Carbon sequestration upon ice sheets surfaces
5. Export of organic carbon to downstream Arctic ecosystems
6. Anoxic processes beneath glaciers and ice sheets
7. Antarctic Ice Sheet as a source of iron to the Southern Ocean
8. Biogenic gas production beneath ice sheets

2 hr practical for this element looking at molecular datasets/bioinformatics

Element 2: Ice Sheet hydrology and dynamics (10 lectures)

1. Global sea level projections
2. Ice sheet models – flow physics
3. Ice sheet models – surface mass budget
4. Greenland ice sheet and climate change
5. Greenland ice sheet - melt water and basal lubrication
6. Greenland ice sheet - calving
7. Antarctic ice sheet and climate change
8. Antarctic ice sheet – grounding line migration
9. Antarctic ice sheet – ocean interactions
10. Subglacial lakes

Intended Learning Outcomes

On completion of this Unit students should be able to:

• Apply an earth systems science approach within any environmental context
• To use a spreadsheet package to perform advanced hydrological calculations (hydrograph separation using meteorological data and chemical mixing models)use a database of phylogenetic information to assess what types of microbes are present beneath glacier and ice sheet environments and what is their function. They will also be able to relate this to key in situ biogeochemical processes
• Be able to think critically and formulate ideas about the functioning of an environmental system using a field dataset
• Appreciate the limitations and assumptions made in inferring environmental processes from a field and numerical modelling datasetseld dataset
• Demonstrate an in depth understanding of hydrological biogeochemical and physical processes operating in a glacier systemwithin ice sheets, together with interactions with other components of the Earth system

The following transferable skills are developed in this Unit:

• Numeracy
• Geochemical calculations
• Research design and techniques
• Analytical skills and problem solving
• Computer literacy.
• Critical evaluation of literary sources

Teaching Information

Lectures & practical sessions

Assessment Information

Final Exam 67% Project Report 33%

Reading and References

Anesio, A. M., B. Sattler, C. Foreman, J. Telling, A. Hodson, M. Tranter, and R. Psenner (2010), Carbon fluxes through bacterial communities on glacier surfaces, Ann Glaciol, 51(56), 32-40.

Price, S. F., A. J. Payne, I. M. Howat, and B. E. Smith (2011), Committed sea-level rise for the next century from Greenland ice sheet dynamics during the past decade, P Natl Acad Sci USA, 108(22), 8978-8983.

Siegert, M. J., M. Tranter, J. C. Ellis-Evans, J. C. Priscu, and W. B. Lyons (2003), The hydrochemistry of Lake Vostok and the potential for life in Antarctic subglacial lakes, Hydrol Process, 17(4), 795-814.

Wadham, J. L., M. Tranter, M. Skidmore, A. J. Hodson, J. Priscu, W. B. Lyons, M. Sharp, P. Wynn, and M. Jackson (2010), Biogeochemical weathering under ice: Size matters, Global Biogeochem. Cycles, 24(3), GB3025.

Wadham, J. L., M. Tranter, S. Tulaczyk, and M. Sharp (2008), Subglacial methanogenesis: A potential climatic amplifier?, Global Biogeochem. Cycles, 22(2), GB2021.

Pritchard, H. D., R. J. Arthern, D. G. Vaughan, and L. A. Edwards (2009), Extensive dynamic thinning on the margins of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, Nature, 461(7266), 971-975.

Pritchard, H. D., R. J. Arthern, D. G. Vaughan, and L. A. Edwards (2009), Extensive dynamic thinning on the margins of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, Nature, 461(7266), 971-975.