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

No prerequisites for MaSc students.

For bachelor students at the 3rd year, having attended a course of
physics and at least one course of geomorphology, quaternary geology or
physical geography

The course aims at giving a current review of modern research into
processes and dynamics of the global cryosphere (glaciers, ice sheets,
permafrost) and their connections with the climate system. Lectures will
cover arguments linked to glacial dynamics both in the temperate (e.g.
the European Alps glaciers) and the polar domains (e.g. Arctic,
Antarctica). A considerable insight into the methodologies used in the
glaciers mass balance determination and the response of glaciers to
climate change represent parts of the course. A specific focus is also
given to periglacial environments and permafrost. The course will focus
both on polar and alpine landscapes, introducing general concepts in
regards to glacial and periglacial geomorphology, meteorological and
climatic control on the distribution of the cryosphere, paleoclimate with
specific topic on the little ice age and geophysical methods used to study
the criosphere

Benn, D. and D.J.A. Evans (2010). Glaciers & Glaciation. 2nd Edition,
Hodder Education, 817 pp.
Cogley, J.G., R. Hock, L.A. Rasmussen, A.A. Arendt, A. Bauder, R.J.
Braithwaite, P.Jansson, G. Kaser, M. Möller, L. Nicholson and M. Zemp
(2011). Glossary of Glacier Mass Balance and Related Terms, IHP-VII
Technical Documents in Hydrology No. 86, IACS. Contribution No. 2,
UNESCO-IHP, Paris, 124 pp.
French H.M. (2007). The Periglacial Environment. 3rd Edition, Wiley. 458
pp.
Ballantyne C.K. (2018). Periglacial Geomorphology. 1° Edition,
WileyBlackwell. 472 pp.

Beside the slides, other references will be given during the course for
specific topics

1st Module – Meteorology vs Climatology
Introductions and differences; the Earth’s energy balance; Absorption
spectra and black body; the role of green house gases (CO2, H2O, CH4)
and the “green House Effect”; Albedo; Theory of “Climate Change” and
evidence (temperature, sea level, glacier melting, sea ice); atmospheric
lapse rete (T); introduction to synoptic; Stau-Föhn; energy balance at
glacier surface; climatology and meteorology of snow falls in the Alps;
seminars on specific topics

2nd Module – Glaciers and glacial environment
Snow metamorphism and density (snow, firn, ice), Sorge’s law, glacier
facies, the global cryosphere (definitions), Mass Balance (regimes,
seasonality, gradients, freezing level), ELA, precipitation-temperature
relationships with the ELA, glacier sensitivity to climate change, the
Brikdalsbreen event, methods for the calculations of the ELA (AAR, MELM,
CFA, THAR, Kurowski or MGE, AABR), mass balance methodologies
(glaciological, geodetic, geophisic and the use of GPR)), thermal structure
of a glacier (temperate, polythermal and cold glaciers), pressure melting point, temperature distribution within a glacier), glacier dynamics, ogives
or forbes bands, continuity equation, creep, stress, strain, basal e lateral
drag, crevasses, bergschrund, Glen’s law, Basal motion, Basal sliding,
Calving processes (back strass, melt undercatting, bouyancy drivenGreenland, Antarctic ice shelf collapse), Surging processes (Hydrologic
switch e thermal switch), glacier hydrology, bedières, englacial dreinage
(cut and closure, fractures), glacial speleology, Zwally effect, debris
transport (supraglacial, englacial, subglacial), plucking, debris cover
glaciers, the Little Ice Age (LIA) in the Alps, Black Carbon and the end of
the LIA, debris deposition and types of moraines (frontal, lateral,
icecored, fluted, rogen, hummocky), glaciokarst, intro to glacier
modeling;
seminars on specific topics

3rd Module – Permafrost and periglacial environment
Permafrost (definition), frost action, zero-curtain effect, thermal regime in
the ground and active layer, permafrost types (latitudinal, altitudinal,
montane, alpine, submarine), ground ice, ice wedges e thermal
contraction crack polygons, soil constituent and freezing processes,
Geometric situation in the soil, ice lenses, transient layer, active layer
phenomena (ice needles, bedrock heave, tilting of stones, patterned
ground and frost sorting, geli/solifluction features, moss banks),
cryoturbation e frost heave (injection ice, elevational potential and pore
water expulsion), Pingo (Open system e Closed system), thermokarst,
Stefan Solution, Rock glaciers (activity degree, dynamics and
climatic/geomorphological classification, glacial and periglacial genesis,
avalanche-derived rock glaciers) RILA, BTS (Bottom Temperature of
Snow-cover), ERT (Electrical Resistivity Tomography), Protalus and
Pronival Ramparts, Ice caves, static ice-caves and dynamic ice caves, ice
cave climatology, cryogenic calcite, cryosphere and glacier-like forms on
Mars and other planets of the solar system.

The course is divided in 3 parts (climate, glacial and periglacial
environments) with lectures and seminars.

The course is expected to have a part in the lab working on real
applications both alone and in groups

Possible 1 day fieldwork and/or a 1 to 2 days excursion (to be decided)

Written test, with short essays and multiple choice qustions, as well as a
long essay based on a title/research given before the date of the
verification. During the semester one or more practical tests (single or in
group) will be given and scored.
The final given score, in thirtieths, is based on the sum of each of the
proposed verifications, multiplied by the weight (in %) assigned to every
single test.

To pass the verification (min 18/30), students should demonstrate a
sufficient degree of knowledge on the dynamics regulating the global
crysophere and its interactions with the climate system, in order to
produce composit arguments taking in account all its characteristics.
For the maximum score of 30/30 e lode, students should reach an
excellent level of knowledge of criospheric dynamics, in order to reply
correctly to all the proposed questions