Fall 2017 - EASC 314 D100

Principles of Glaciology (3)

Class Number: 2446

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 5 – Dec 4, 2017: Mon, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Dec 11, 2017
    Mon, 3:30–6:30 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Instructor:

    Gwenn Flowers
    gflowers@sfu.ca
    1 778 782-6638
    Office: TASC 1 Room 7237
  • Prerequisites:

    60 units, including MATH 152, PHYS 102 or 121 or 126 or 141, and any 100-level EASC course or permission of the instructor. Recommended: EASC 101. All with a grade of C- or better.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An introduction to the study of ice in the modem environment from a geophysical perspective, with a focus on glaciers and ice sheets. Topics include the physical and chemical properties of ice, glacier mass and energy balance, glacier and ice-sheet hydraulics and dynamics, fast ice flow and the relationship between ice and climate. Quantitative.

COURSE DETAILS:

General:
This course is an introduction to the study of ice in the environment from a geophysical perspective, with a specific focus on the terrestrial cryosphere (glaciers and ice sheets). The objectives of this course are to (1) illustrate how first principles can be used to develop a conceptual and mathematical understanding of glacier form and flow, and (2) equip students to understand some of the critical and emerging scientific issues related to Earth's cryosphere.

Course Topics:
1.Introduction to glaciology
2.Glacier formation and mass balance
3.Structure and material properties of ice
4.Deformation of ice
5.Glacier mechanics
6.Glacier hydraulics
7.Basal Processes
8.Ice sheets, streams and shelves
9.Surging and tidewater glaciers
10.Subglacial lakes and outburst floods

Course Organization:
Two 1-hour lectures and one 3-hour laboratory per week

Laboratory periods will be used for problem sets, computer-based assignments and discussions of readings according to the weekly course matrix.

Grading

  • Midterm Exam(s) 15-30%
  • Cumulative Final Exam (oral or written) 15-30%
  • Problem Sets/Laboratory Exercises (4-5) 25-35%
  • Presentation/Discussion of Readings 5-15%
  • Short Writing Assignments 10-25%
  • Assessment in this course has been designed to be distributed both in time (throughout the semester) and in methodology (to provide a broadly-based overall assessment that targets the various learning objectives).

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Required readings will be distributed during the course.

RECOMMENDED READING:

1. The Physics of Glaciers, Kurt M. Cuffey and W.S.B. Paterson, 4th edition, Elsevier Publishing, 2010.
2. Principles of Glacier Mechanics, R. LeB. Hooke, 2nd edition, Cambridge University Press, 2005.
3. Fundamentals of Glacier Dynamics, C.J. van der Veen, A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, 1999.

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS