GLACIOLOGY
Addresses the fundamentals of glaciology and glacier landform mechanics: mass balance, ice deformation, basal slip, temperature structure, glacial hydrology, sediment deformation and deposition, and landform building processes. Emphasizes an understanding of the mathematical principles that dictate how glaciers function. Begins with a classical treatment of the mechanics of glaciers and moves onto fundamental advances in the field of glaciology.
Prerequisites & course information
Requisites: Graduate/professional standing Course Designation: Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Fall 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Explain the different dislocation mechanism of ice. Audience: Graduate 2. Compute a vertical velocity field in a glacier. Audience: Graduate 3. Calculate steady-state and non-steady-state temperature profiles in a glacier. Audience: Graduate 4. Describe mathematically the processes by which glaciers slip over and deform their beds. Audience: Graduate 5. Compute the hydrological potential of water in and under a glacier and calculate steady-state channel sizes. Audience: Graduate 6. Explain the causes of stable and unstable glacier slip. Audience: Graduate 7. Calculate the rates of glacial erosion from abrasion and quarrying. Audience: Graduate 8. Explain the mechanisms that produce subglacially derived landforms. Audience: Graduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Explain the different dislocation mechanism of ice. Audience: Graduate 2. Compute a vertical velocity field in a glacier. Audience: Graduate 3. Calculate steady-state and non-steady-state temperature profiles in a glacier. Audience: Graduate 4. Describe mathematically the processes by which glaciers slip over and deform their beds. Audience: Graduate 5. Compute the hydrological potential of water in and under a glacier and calculate steady-state channel sizes. Audience: Graduate 6. Explain the causes of stable and unstable glacier slip. Audience: Graduate 7. Calculate the rates of glacial erosion from abrasion and quarrying. Audience: Graduate 8. Explain the mechanisms that produce subglacially derived landforms. Audience: Graduate
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027