ICE SHEETS AND GLACIERS IN THE CLIMATE SYSTEM: PART I, GEOPHYSICAL-GEOLOGICAL APPROACH

1. Geophysics on ice
Active seismic method:
The methodology, seismic data acquisition and elaboration, seismic tomography, Imaging, anisotropy of ice, physical properties of the ice and bedrock. Discussion of some case studies in the Alps and in Antarctica.
Passive seismic method:
The methodology, seismic data acquisition and elaboration, Estimation of glaciers thicknesses and basal properties using the horizontal-to-vertical component spectral ratio (HVSR) technique. Discussion of some case studies in the Alps and in Antarctica.
Ground Penetrating Radar on Ice:
Introduction to GPR and its application to glacier monitoring.
Geoelectrical methods:
Quick review of the electrical methods. The electrical resistivity tomography (ERT). Potentials and limitations of ERT applications in glacial and periglacial conditions. Discussion of some case studies in the Alps.

2. Glaciers and permafrost
Concepts on climatology and earth energy balance and the role of CO2 and other GHG.
Concepts on Alpine meteorology and climatology of periglacial and glacial environment.
Glacier morphology (ice sheets and ice caps, mountain glaciers, ice shelves, present and past distribution of glaciers) Energy balance at the glacier’s surface, accumulation and ablation processes, Equilibrium Line Altitude (ELA), Glacier sensitivity to climate change.
Debris transport and deposition: the little ice age.
Cold climate of non-glaciated regions, Frost action, Ground temperature regime, Latitudinal permafrost (small scale and large scale morphologies), Mountain permafrost and Rock glaciers.

3. Polar marine depositional systems and case studies
General part on polar marine depositional systems
Case History: depositional systems south and west of Spitsbergen, geophysical data.
Case History: Storfjorden and Kveithola Trough-Mouth Fans, sediment core data.
Case History: Ross Rea and Wilkes Land margins.

English

oral exam + class exercises