AG-210
The Quaternary History of Svalbard (15 ECTS)

Prerequisite: 60 ECTS in natural sciences at university level, whereof 30 ECTS must be within earth sciences

Application deadline: 15. April 2011

Objective:
This course offers a thorough understanding of the Quaternary geological evolution of Svalbard and the Barents Sea. Primary focus will be on methods and sedimentologic, geomorphologic and stratigraphic principles to reconstruct paleoclimatic fluctuations.

Content:
The course will give insight into the Quaternary geological evolution of the landscape with its fjords, valleys, cirques, mountains and marine terraces by repeated glacial and interglacial cycles. During the last glacial cycle, 120,000-10,000 years ago, Svalbard was subject to two or three major glaciations with a major ice sheet over the Barents Sea and Svalbard. During their maximum, glaciers extended in fjords and troughs out to the shelf break west of Spitsbergen. The concept of distinctive ice dynamics and glacier regimes reflected in landscapes has only been introduced in the last few years. Therefore, it is essential to study different landform associations of cold based, polythermal and surge-type glaciers. The Late Weichselian ended with rapid deglaciation during the period 15,000-10,000 years ago. The following isostatic uplift left flights of marine terraces around Svalbard.

During the early and mid-Holocene, Svalbard climate was milder than now and most glaciers were probably smaller than at present. Glaciers expanded considerably during the Late Holocene culminating with the Little Ice Age, which ended on Svalbard during the first decade of the 20th Century. The lectures will illustrate Quaternary geological subjects such as paleoclimatic variability within the Arctic, the formation of glacial and interglacial sedimentary sequences in glacial, glacifluvial, lacustrine and marine environments, postglacial relative sea level and isostatic land uplift. Introduction to Quaternary methods, geochronology and paleoclimatic proxies will be given.

Fieldwork (boat excursion and tent camp) is an important part of the course, during which students will study key locations along the West coast of Spitsbergen and receive training in sedimentological, stratigraphical and geomorphological field techniques. Data collected in the field will form the basis of an independent synthesis and literature project to be completed during the term.

Recommended in combination with: AG-211 Arctic Marine Geology

	Period:	Autumn semester 2011 (08. August - 09. December)
	Teaching:	45 hrs lectures, 25 seminars/exercises, 4 days boat excursion and 4 days tent camp (obligatory).
	Evaluation:	Written 3 hrs exam (60 % of grade); assessed term project; written and oral presentation, incl. field work (40%).
	Course responsible:	Anne Hormes

Further information: