Ocean-climate interaction through geologic time
This course introduces students to the role of the ocean in long term climate change.
It will cover different types of ocean-climate interactions going back from the Eocene 40 million years ago to today and into the future. Students will learn what the role is of climate, the geography of the continents and ice-sheets on the ocean circulation. The course will describe how the ocean in turn affects climate by transporting heat around the globe and taking up or releasing carbon dioxide. Learning will be facilitated through lectures, exercises, demonstrations, group discussions, literature reviews, and presentations.
Course is given during period 2 (2–31 May)
Course content
• basic climate dynamics with a focus on climate variations above geological time
• the role of the ocean during climate transitions
• the importance of plate tectonics and the geography of the continents for the ocean circulation
• the importance of ocean circulation for the climate through its transport of heat and its impact on the carbon cycle
• the interaction between the ocean and the cryosphere
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Course structure
The teaching consists of lectures, group lessons, seminars, exercises, and project work.
Assessment
The final course grade will be made up from the grades on a variety of exercises and a final project.
a. Knowledge control is done through written tests, written reports, and oral reports. Late submission of written reports has consequences for the course's final grade, which is further described in the course's grading criteria. Examination takes place in English.
The examiner has the opportunity to decide on an adapted or alternative examination for students with disabilities.
b. To pass the final grade, participation in seminars and project work is required. If special reasons exist, the examiner may, after consultation with the relevant teacher, grant the student exemption from the obligation to participate in certain compulsory teaching.
c. The course's final grade is set according to a seven-grade goal-related scale:
A = Excellent
B = Very good
C = Good
D = Satisfactory
E = Sufficient
Fx = Fail, some more work is required
F = Fail, much more work is requirede. Students who fail in regular exams are entitled to undergo further exams as long as the course is given. The number of test cases is not limited. Other compulsory course parts are also compared with tests. Students who have passed the examination may not undergo a re-examination for higher grades. A student, who has passed two tests for a course or part of a course without approved results, has the right to have another examiner appointed, unless special reasons speak against it. The request for this shall be made to the Institutional Board. The course has at least three examination opportunities per academic year in the years in which teaching is given. For those academic years that the course is not given, at least one examination opportunity is offered.
f. The grade Fx is given the opportunity to supplement up to the grade E. The examiner decides on which supplementary tasks to be performed and what criteria apply to be approved for the supplement. Completion must take place before the next examination.
Examiner
Teachers: Agatha de Boer, Wei-Li Hong , Helen Coxall, Frederik Schenk
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Schedule
The schedule will be available no later than one month before the start of the course. We do not recommend print-outs as changes can occur. At the start of the course, your department will advise where you can find your schedule during the course.Note that in the schedule, the dates and times of lectures, presentations, and practicals are subject to change.
The final schedule will be communicated to students who register, a few weeks before the start of the course.
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Course literature
Note that the course literature can be changed up to two months before the start of the course.
- Powerpoint slides of the lectures will be available online at lecture time.
- Journal articles for preparation reading will be provided on Athena.
- For your own final project you will have to do your own research. To access journal articles, you need to follow to https://www.su.se/english/library/borrow-use/remote-accesshe instruction in: https://www.su.se/english/library/borrow-use/remote-access
- The course textbook:
Alan P. Trujillo and Harold V. Thurman 2013
Essentials of Oceanography
Published by Pearson , 11th Edition
Paperback: ISBN: 9781292041001And current scientific articles on the subject and lecture material will be distributed during the course.
Note! The book is not necessary for the course, but recommended for those with no oceanographic background.
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Contact
Elisabeth DäckerAdministrativ studierektor
- Visiting address
- S 316
- Svante Arrheniusväg 8 C, Geohuset
Agatha de BoerProfessor of Physical paleoceanography
- Visiting address
- R 238
- Svante Arrheniusväg 8 C, Geohuset
Associate prof in phys. paleoceanography, Study Director of M.Sc Climate Science
