Cryosphere and Climate Systems

Catalog description

Earth's cryosphere is undergoing rapid change, with high latitude warming and ice losses among the most prominent signatures of anthropogenic climate change. In turn, cryospheric changes possess global ramifications, including impacts on sea level, the planetary energy balance, and global weather and climate. Addressing climate change begins with understanding its manifestations, and few natural components of the Earth system are changing as quickly and with greater impacts than the cryosphere. This course focuses on the cryosphere and its significance in the global climate system. It provides an introduction to the dynamics of glaciers, ice sheets, and sea ice, including the various feedback mechanisms inherent to these systems. We begin with an exploration of evidence for past variability in ice sheets governed by natural Earth system cycles, before embarking on analysis of interactions between ice and the climate system today, and potential future cryospheric changes in a warming climate. This course combines lecture-based instruction, applied activities, and project-based learning. Emphasizing a data-driven approach, students gain an introduction to Python programming tailored to earth and climate sciences, as well as Jupyter Notebooks for interactive data exploration. The course investigates techniques used in contemporary cryospheric sciences, including analysis of satellite remotely sensed data, output from regional and global Earth system models, in situ meteorological observations, and climate reanalysis products. Students will build proficiency in practical and transferrable skills essential for modern cryospheric and climatic research.