Time Schedule:
Edwin D Waddington
ESS 431
Seattle Campus
Snow deposition and metamorphism, avalanches, heat and mass balance at snow and ice surfaces, glacier flow, ice sheets, sea ice, permafrost, methods of paleoclimate reconstruction, Ice Age theories. Prerequisite: PHYS 121.
Class description
This course covers a broad range of geophysical problems involving ice in the environment (the "cryosphere") and its role in global change. Subjects include: formation, deposition and metamorphism of snow; glacier flow; behavior of ice sheets and interpretation of their chemistry and internal structure; growth and decay of sea ice and relation to climate; geomorphology of permafrost terrain; paleoclimate reconstruction from glacial geomorphology. The course is primarily descriptive, but stresses a physical understanding of underlying processes. Gaining a better understanding of how to formulate useful (and also solvable) questions about the environment is one student-learning objective.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
The course is co-taught by a number of faculty with expertise in specific areas in glaciology. Instruction is primarily by lectures on different topics each class.
Recommended preparation
Some background experience in using physics to formulate problems and in using calculus and other mathematical or statistical approaches to solve them is very helpful. Personal experience with snow and ice has motivated students to take this class.
Class assignments and grading
There are homework assignments approximately weekly. These assignments consist of a mixture of worked quantitative problems involving ice in the environment, and descriptive answers to questions that probe student understanding of processes operating in the cryosphere. IA voluntary problem-solving and discussion session takes place each Friday, at a time and place to be determined. Instructors will assign study questions and will be available to discuss homework assignments.
A field trip to a glacier on Mt. Baker early in the Quarter is a highlight of the class. While participation is not mandatory, it is highly recommended. There is a graded assignment associated with the field trip. An alternative assignment can be completed for those unable to go on the field trip.
Grades are based on a combination of homework assignments, mid-term and final exams, and class participation.
