AG-332
Arctic Terrestrial Quaternary Stratigraphy (10 ECTS)

Required previous knowledge/specific course requirements:
Enrolment in a relevant master programme. Students are required to have general understanding of glacial sedimentology and stratigraphy.

Learning outcome:
Based on field studies of sediment successions at key-stratigraphic sites on western Svalbard the students will obtain an understanding of the Quaternary history of Svalbard, and of the long-term climatic fluctuations between glacial and interglacial periods in the Arctic.

Academic content:
The course takes advantage of relatively easy access from UNIS to most key-stratigraphic sites on western Svalbard. The course starts with introductory lectures on Svalbard geology and history of concepts concerning the Late Quaternary Svalbard-Barents Sea ice sheet. The lectures are followed by seminars, where each student gives an oral presentation on a selected subject concerning the glacial and climate history of Svalbard, based on in-depth study of the literature. Field work will be conducted during eight days, where several key stratigraphic sites will be studied for giving the student a better understand the Quaternary history of Svalbard and the Barents Sea region. Sites visited and studied include Kapp Ekholm (Billefjorden), Linnédalen (outer Isfjorden), Poolepynten (Prins Karls Forland), Skilvika (Bellsund), Brøggerhalvøya and Kongsfjordhallet (Kongsfjorden). The focus of the terrestrial field studies will be on interpretation of sedimentary successions and geomorphology in order to reconstruct glacial history, sea level changes and palaeoclimatic variations. As well as re-examining key stratigraphical sites, the students will be given opportunity to participate in collection of novel stratigraphic data, if possible.

The students will present their field results in the form of a scientific report. The data and observations collected during the fieldwork will be used to critically assess the validity of published interpretations of the Svalbard Late Quaternary stratigraphy. The report will be written during one week of supervised time at UNIS, after the field excursion.

The course is intended for master students in glacial and quaternary geology, physical geography and marine geology. It links to AG-326 (Quaternary Glacial and Climate History of the Arctic), and is also recommended for students taking courses in Quaternary marine and glacial geology (AG-339 and AG-340).

Teaching methods and activities:
The course is run in combination with AG-832. The course extends over 3 weeks at UNIS, but students are required to read key-literature and prepare seminar presentation prior to arriving at UNIS.

Total lecture hours: 8 hours.
Total seminar hours: 16 hours.
Excursion: 8 days.
Post-excursion work with data and report: 1 week.

Compulsory assignment:

Oral presentations of selected subjects concerning glacial history/glacial stratigraphy of Svalbard and participation in fieldwork.

Assessment:

All assessments must be fulfilled in order to receive a final grade.

Application deadline: 15. April 2012.