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GEOSCI 762

ICE AND CLIMATE DYNAMICS

3 credits.

Introduction to the role of ice in the climate system. Review main components of the cryosphere (Arctic and Antarctic sea ice, Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, mountain glaciers, snow cover, and permafrost), with particular focus on recent and future changes as documented in recent publications. Consider different methods to study the cryosphere and its role in the climate system, such as remote sensing and in situ observations, state estimates and reanalyses, with a particular focus on idealized and comprehensive global climate models. Covers fundamental physical concepts as well as unresolved research questions such as the debates surrounding potential instabilities in the climate system and uncertainties in future projections of ice loss, teleconnections, and sea level rise.

Prerequisites & course information

Requisites: Graduate/professional standing Course Designation: Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Fall 2025 Learning Outcomes: 1. Differentiate between the main components of Earth’s cryosphere and their respective roles in the climate system. Audience: Graduate 2. Compare the range of methodologies used to study Earth’s cryosphere, including in situ and remote sensing observations, theoretical considerations, and numerical models. Audience: Graduate 3. Develop idealized models of sea ice, land ice, and snow and their interactions with the climate system. Audience: Graduate 4. Carry out analysis of output from idealized and comprehensive ice and climate models. Audience: Graduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Differentiate between the main components of Earth’s cryosphere and their respective roles in the climate system. Audience: Graduate 2. Compare the range of methodologies used to study Earth’s cryosphere, including in situ and remote sensing observations, theoretical considerations, and numerical models. Audience: Graduate 3. Develop idealized models of sea ice, land ice, and snow and their interactions with the climate system. Audience: Graduate 4. Carry out analysis of output from idealized and comprehensive ice and climate models. Audience: Graduate

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