Ice Sheets, Climate, and Sea Level Rise unit (KSA309)

Introduction

How will sea level rise and climate extremes impact coastal nations like Australia? This unit introduces Glaciology and connects your knowledge of the Southern Ocean with glaciers and the study of the Earth’s largest ice sheet in Antarctica. Current and future change in this ice sheet will determine the rate of sea level rise with profound social, environmental, and economic impacts on Australia and its Pacific neighbours. Using data analytics and the skills you developed previously, you will learn how ice is formed, how glaciers flow, and how vital information about Earth's climate is stored in the ice. By analysing an ice core in a cold room laboratory you will reconstruct climate extremes in Australia, including drought, rain and wildfire. You will also learn the science of sea level rise including Australia’s historical sea level rise and the indigenous knowledge of coastal drowning passed on in oral stories going back thousands of years. The Antarctic contribution to sea level rise will be visualised from the observed change of glaciers in Antarctica and models used to make predictions. Through practical sessions you will become familiar with ice sheet models used to project sea level rise, including those highlighted in climate risk assessments.  At the end of this unit, you will know how change in the Antarctic ice sheet poses major risks to ecosystems, infrastructure and communities across Australia. 

Summary

Unit name	Ice Sheets, Climate, and Sea Level Rise
Unit code	KSA309
Credit points	12.5
College/School	Sciences and Engineering Institute for Marine & Antarctic Studies
Discipline	Oceans Ice and Climate
Coordinator	Professor Poul Christoffersen
Available as an elective?	Yes
Delivered By	University of Tasmania
Level	Advanced

Availability

Specific information on 2027 unit availability will be available in August

Learning Outcomes

• Analyse Antarctic ice core data to evaluate past climate in Australia prior to modern weather records
• Analyse modern ice sheet changes in Antarctica using satellite observations
• Analyse sea level rise contributions from Antarctica in future climate scenarios
• Evaluate climate risk in Australia based on models and observations from Antarctica

Fee Information

2027 fee information will be available in August.

Requisites

Prerequisites

KSA206

Teaching

Teaching Pattern	On-Campus:¿¿Weekly 1-hour lectures and weekly a 3-hr Computer Practicals.¿
Assessment	Contemporary Antarctic data analysis (20%)|Future Ice Sheet Simulations (20%)|Ice Core Lab (20%)|Sea Level Rise Assessment (40%)
Timetable	View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required	Required readings will be listed in the unit outline prior to the start of classes.

The University reserves the right to amend or remove courses and unit availabilities, as appropriate.