NIGB15037U Paleoclimate

The course deals with Earth’s deep time climate history through the study of climate proxies (sedimentary and geochemical) and dynamics of forcing mechanisms at an introductory level. The course uses a qualitative principle oriented approach with a few simple quantitative treatments and exercises. The course introduces the global energy balance, greenhouse effect, the coupled climate system (atmosphere-ocean circulation and heat transport), the carbon cycle and cycling of elements in the ocean, role of the biota in climate change, long-term climate regulation, and Milankovitch cycles.

The presentation of climate-sensitive proxies and stratigraphic archives will be discussed together with the relations to sea-level variation and geo- and oceanographic chemical principles. Presentation of Earth’s paleoclimate may include examples from Greenhouse and Icehouse paleoclimates, Snowball Earth, mass extinction and Cenozoic climate deterioration.

The course begins with an optional 5 day fieldtrip. Field observations are used in lectures and exercises. It is possible to complete the course without particpating in the field trip but it is of course not recommended.

In the exercises and on the field trip we will primarily work with one time period/event as a case illustrating the application of different methods, proxies and their interpretation. In the exercises we introduce and use a numerical computing programming environment (such as MatLab or R) for graphic presentation of climate proxies, statistic correlations, and perform simple calculations of element cycles including stable isotopes.

The course couples a dynamic process understanding of the climate system (ocean-atmosphere-cryosphere) with the geobiochemical feedbacks that amplify climate change. Importantly the concept of coupled systems, systems analysis, and feedback loops are used throughout the course. Finally, examples of past climate change are related to present and future climate change.