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Climate history and paleoclimatology
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:14:48
Abstract
The course "Climate history and paleoclimatology gives an overview on climate through geological time and it provides insight into methods and tools used in paleoclimate research.
Objective
The student will have an understanding of evolution of climate and its major forcing factors -orbital, atmosphere chemistry, tectonics- through geological time. He or she will understand interaction between life and climate and he or she will be familiar with the use of most common geochemical climate "proxies", he or she will be able to evaluate quality of marine and terrestrial sedimentary paleoclimate archives. The student will be able to estimate rates of changes in climate history and to recognize feedbacks between the biosphere and climate.
Content
Climate system and earth history - climate forcing factors, response mechanismof bisophere Geological time: stratigraphy, resolution of geological archives Climate archives, paleoclimate proxies Climate through geological time: "lessons from the past" Little Ice Age -history and geology. Lakes as archives The Holcocene: varved lake records from the Engadine Extreme and rapid climate events: the younger Dryas Ice age: marine climate curves and continental ice age models Pliocene and El Nino
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- end-of-semester examination
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture with exercise | Climate history and paleoclimatology |
|
2 h weekly |