GEO310 Paleoenvironment and Climate Change

Credits (ECTS):10

Course responsible:Danielle Mei Pearce

Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås

Teaching language:Engelsk

Course frequency:Annually

Nominal workload:250 hours

Teaching and exam period:This course starts in Autumn parallel. This course has teaching/evaluation in Autumn parallel.

About this course

The course addresses the dramatic natural changes in the Earth's physical and biological environments on geological time scales. There will be a focus on the development of both low and high latitude environments. The students will learn about the forcing mechanisms and feedbacks controlling long-term climatic change, the effect of climate change on the physical and biological environments, and gain an understanding for the environments' sensitivity to future changes. The course enhances students understanding from Quaternary geology through a series of lectures and seminars which uses up-to-date research papers addressing these topics.

Learning outcome

After completing the course, the student shall have the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge: The students should be able to interpret and analyse the natural changes that have taken place in the earth’s physical and biological environment in the recent geological past. They should have a deeper understanding of the development in the Quaternary and see connections between different environments and climate change.

Skills: The students should be able to assess and discuss scientific studies published in research journals.

  • Lectures, seminars, debatt, group work, submitted papers.
  • GEO210, or equivalent courses.
  • Total assessment:

    • Portfolio assessment 40%.
    • Final written exam in english 60%.

    Both parts must be passed. Grading system: A-E/Not passed.

  • An external examiner participates in the grading process.
  • One submitted paper.
  • Seminars, debate and lectures: 24 hours
  • Letter grades
  • Special requirements in Science