LFU:online

After completing this course, students will know the properties and relative significance of the different components of the cryosphere within the wider climate system.
With a focus on the mountain glacier system, students will develop an understanding of glacier processes of glacier formation, ablation, hydrology, erosion/deposition and how these feedback to the ocean, atmosphere and biosphere. Practical experimentation with open source numerical models of the surface energy balance (COSIPY: ) and glacier behaviour in response to climate forcing (OGGM: ) will be used to consolidate the understanding of these processes as part of developing insights into the tools used to study glaciers and the wider cryosphere.

• Understand the key features of a glacier system (accumulation, motion, ablation, meltwater, erosion, deposition)

• Know the mechanisms by which glacier change is forced

• Understand the impact of cryospheric change on other climate system components

• Know which cryospheric research tools are required to answer specific questions.

• Examples of recent studies and papers in our Innsbruck working group.

Lecture and discussion, computer exercises with observation datasets and models.

Written exam, computer practicals and class presentation/homework

Cuffey KM & Paterson WSB (2011) The Physics of Glaciers. (Elsevier, Amsterdam, Boston, Heidelberg, London, New York, Oxford, Paris, San Diego, San Francisco, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo).

As a supplementary literature in addition to scientific papers which will be presented during the lecture.

in English