6 ECTS credits
165 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 4017292FNR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (F) Master - specialised level.

Semester
2nd semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Taught in
English
Partnership Agreement
Under interuniversity agreement for degree program
Faculty
Faculty of Science and Bio-engineering Sciences
Department
Geography
Educational team
Philippe Huybrechts (course titular)
Activities and contact hours
26 contact hours Lecture
39 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
Course Content

1. Ice in the climate system
2. Physics properties of snow and ice
3. Ice deformation
4. Numerical modelling of glaciers and ice sheets
5. Ice thermodynamics
6. Mass balance, atmosphere-ice processes
7. Basal processes
8. Glacial isostasy
9. Ice core studies

Course material
Handbook (Recommended) : Fundamentals of glacier dynamics, van der Veen, C.J., 2de, CRC Press, 9781138077218, 2017
Handbook (Recommended) : Glaciers and Climate Change, Oerlemans, J., A.A. Balkema, Lisse, 9789026518133, 2001
Handbook (Recommended) : Principles of Glacier Mechanics, Hooke, R.L., 2de, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 9781108446075, 2019
Handbook (Recommended) : The physics of glaciers, Cuffey, K.M. and W.S.B.Paterson, 4de, Butterworth-Heinemann/ Elsevier, Oxford, 9780123694614, 2010
Handbook (Recommended) : Dynamics of Ice sheets and Glaciers, Greve, R., and H. Blatter, Springer, Berlin, 9783642269356, 2012
Handbook (Recommended) : Glaciers & Glaciation, Benn, D.I. and D.J.A. Evans, 2de, Hodder Education, Abingdon, 9780340905791, 2010
Digital course material (Recommended) : Powerpoint presentations, lecture notes, references to handbooks and scientific papers, Canvas
Additional info

This course is taught in English. Powerpoint presentations, lecture notes, references to handbooks and scientific papers available via Pointcarré.

Additional study material

• Bamber, J.L. and Payne, A.J. (Editors), 2004. Mass balance of the cryosphere: observations and modelling of contemporary and future changes. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 644 p.
• Benn, D.I. and D.J.A. Evans, 2010. Glaciers & Glaciation, Hodder Education, Abingdon, 802 p.
• Greve, R., and H. Blatter, 2009. Dynamics of Ice sheets and Glaciers, Springer, Berlin, 287 p.
• Cuffey, K.M. and W.S.B.Paterson, 2010. The physics of glaciers 4th edition. Butterworth-Heinemann/ Elsevier, Oxford, 693 p.
• Hooke, R.L., 2005. Principles of Glacier Mechanics, 2nd edition. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 429 p.
• Oerlemans, J., 2001. Glaciers and Climate Change. A.A. Balkema, Lisse, 148 p.
• van der Veen, C.J., 2013. Fundamentals of glacier dynamics 2nd edition. CRC Press, Boca Raton, 403 p.

Learning Outcomes

Algemene competenties

Gaining insight in the physical properties of natural ice.
Gaining insight in the dynamics of natural ice masses as they occur on the Earth’s surface.
Understanding the interactions between natural ice masses and the atmosphere, ocean, and lithosphere.
Be able to develop a simple numerical flow model.
Be able to analyse the results of an existing computer model.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 60% of the final mark.
PRAC Practical Assignment determines 40% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Oral examination with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 60% of the final mark.

    Note: Oral exam with written preparation

Within the PRAC Practical Assignment category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Evaluation of the exercises with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 40% of the final mark.

    Note: Evaluation of the exercises

Additional info regarding evaluation

Oral exam with written preparation (60%). Evaluation of the exercises (40%).

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Geography: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Geography: Standard track
Master of Teaching in Science and Technology: geografie (120 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)