PhD Earth Science and Fluid Mechanics
Course: Glaciology (past, present and future)
Venue: University of Trieste
Professors: Renato Colucci ISMAR, CNR), Florence Colleoni (Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti
Climatici, CMCC), Camerlenghi Angelo (OGS), Rebesco Michele (OGS), Renata Lucchi (OGS)
Outline:
The course aims to give a current review of modern research into processes and dynamics of the global
cryosphere (Glaciers, ice sheets, permafrost) and their connections with climate. Lectures will cover
arguments linked to glacial dynamics both in the temperate (e.g. the European Alps) and the cold domains
(e.g. Arctic mountain glaciers). A considerable insight into the response of glaciers to climate change and the
challenges of predicting future directions in glacier mass balance and dynamics, represents a fundemental
part of the course. A specific focus is also given to periglacial environments in order to asses how its
interaction with permafrost and climate, controls the different periglacial landforms. Theoretical approaches
to understanding processes and impacts of climate on periglacial landforms are part of the course. The
course will mainly focus on arctic and alpine landscapes, introducing general concepts in regards to
periglacial geomorphology, meteorological and climatological control on the permafrost distribution and the
activity of periglacial processes and landforms.
Topic arguments:
GLACIERS
Renato R. Colucci (ISMAR, CNR),
1) Climatology
3.1 Glacial and interglacials
3.2 Role of CO2 and other green house gases in the evolution of the cryopshere in the past
3.3 Climatology of periglacial and glacial environment
2) Glacier systems
1.1 Glacier morphology
1.2 ice sheets and ice caps
1.3 mountain glaciers
1.4 ice shelves
1.5 present and past distribution of glaciers
3) Glacier mass balance
2.1 energy balances
2.2 accumulation and ablation processes
2.3 measuring methods (direct glaciological, geodetic, hydrological, gravimetric, geophysics)
2.4 Equilibrium Line Altitude (ELA)
2.5 Glacier sensitivity to climate change
2.6 sea level
4) Periglacial environments and permafrost
4.1 Cold climate of non-glaciated regions
4.2 Frost action
4.3 Ground temperature regime
4.4 Thermal-contraction-crack polygons
4.5 Pingos
4.6 Mountain permafrost: Rock glaciers and protalus ramparts
POLAR MARINE DEPOSITIONAL SYSTEMS
Camerlenghi Angelo (OGS), Rebesco Michele (OGS), Renata Lucchi (OGS)
1. River-dominated Marine Sedimentary Systems
2. River versus Ice Sheet Sediment Source
3. Ice Sheet-dominated Sedimentary Systems
a. Ice Streams
b. Paleo Ice Streams
i. Onshore Evidence
ii. Offshore Evidence
iii. Troughs-mouth Fans
1. Two Main Sedimentary Agents
a. Ice Stream Push: Glacial Maxima Debris Flows
b. Melt Walter
i. Tunnel Valleys
ii. Meltwater plumes and Plumites
4. Mixed River and Ice sheet dominated sedimentary systems (the MecKenzie Delta)
5. Sea ice sediment transport
6. Contourites
7. Turbidites
8. Mass Transport Deposits
Ice sheets in the climate system
Florence Colleoni (Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici, CMCC)
1. Ice sheets evolution from deep past to present
Snowball Earth: the main hypothesis (ice-climate interations)
Antarctic glacial inception and evolution over the last 50 Ma
Greenland glacial inception and evolution over the Plio-Pleistocene transition
2. From ice sheets to sea level
Present-day state of the cryosphere
From ice to sea: isostasy and mass balance
Ice sheets as a tipping point in the climate system: IPCC and beyond
3. Ice-sheet modelling
Light theory of ice dynamics: main physical assumptions
The hierarchy of ice-sheet models: from SIA to full Stokes models
Interactions between climate models and ice-sheet models: downscaling and surface mass balance