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This course provides a multidisciplinary approach to understanding how Antarctica will be affected by global change. It takes a Science System approach and investigates the linkages between the Antarctic atmosphere, cryosphere, lithosphere and biosphere.
This course will focus on how Antarctica will respond to global change by exploring linkages between the Antarctic atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, lithosphere and biosphere. We intend to apply the principles of Earth Systems Science to Antarctica by considering Antarctica as a system isolated from the rest of the universe for the purpose of observing and measuring change. Within this system, the Antarctic atmosphere, biosphere and geosphere are all open systems, and every smaller system within them is an open system. These small open systems are dynamic and interconnected. When something disturbs one of them, the others also change. One of the main challenges is to understand the dynamic interactions between all the relevant open systems sufficiently well so that we can accurately predict what the responses will be when some part of the system is disturbed. In reality, of course, Antarctica is part of an open system and one part of the course will consider the role of Antarctica within the global Earth System. It is only by knowing how the system processes operate that we can begin to predict what possible changes may occur in the future either through natural causes or through anthropogenic changes.We plan to integrate information across disciplines. The course will address the following questions• How does the entire Antarctic System work?• How does it work as a coupled set of subsystems?• What have we learned from how the system works that can help us forecast or predict how Antarctica will respond to global change in the future?The topics coved by this course are:• Introduction to Earth System Sciences • Marine Biota• Survival in an extreme environment • The Antarctic cryosphere • Oceanography• The Antarctic System through time • Antarctic climate • Microalgae • Student seminars • Course synthesis
Goal of the CourseTo understand how Antarctica will respond to global climate change. Learning Outcomes An understanding of Earth System Science An understanding of how the Antarctic atmosphere, Cryosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere function and interact An understanding of how the Antarctic systems will respond to climate change in the immediate and long term future. An understanding of the uncertainties around climate change predictions Experience in personal literature reviews and poster presentations
ANTA101, orANTA102 and ANTA103 or ANTA112 and ANTA113.
Bryan Storey
Peyman Zawar-Reza , Bill Davison , Wolfgang Rack , Paul Broady , Dr Mike Williams (NIWA) and Regina Eisert
Katrina Cadigan-Hall
AssessmentThere are three types of assessment:Mid course test: The contents of Term 3 will be tested in a mid course test held at the beginning of Term 4. 30% of the course marks. (Date to be advised)End of year exam. The end of year exam will cover topics included in Term 4, and some general questions that relate to the whole course. It will be held on [Date to be advised]. 40% of the total marks. Essay and poster presentation. This counts for 30% of the marks and contains two parts, an essay (20% of the total) and a poster presentation (10% of total). Students will be given a list of topics at the beginning of the course and asked to select one for the essay and presentation. The essay and presentation will be on the same topic, and each student will have a different topic. The posters will be displayed during one of the seminars in Term 4 and the students will be asked to give a one minute oral summary of the poster. The Seminars are an integral part of the course. Topics will be covered during the seminars that are not included in the lecture programme and may be tested in the end of year exam.
Berkman, Paul Arthur; Science into policy : global lessons from Antarctica ; Academic Press, 2002.
Ernst, W. G; Earth systems : processes and issues ; Cambridge University Press, 2000.
Hansom, J. D. , Gordon, J. E; Antarctic environments and resources : a geographical perspective ; Addison Wesley Longman, 1998.
Skinner, Brian J. , Porter, Stephen C., Botkin, Daniel B; The blue planet : an introduction to earth system science ; 2nd ed; J. Wiley, 1999.
Waterhouse, E. J. , Antarctica New Zealand; Ross Sea region 2001 : a state of the environment report for the Ross Sea region of Antarctica ; New Zealand Antarctic Institute (Antarctica New Zealand), 2001.
No Text Book Required.
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Domestic fee $747.00
International fee $3,488.00
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
For further information see Gateway Antarctica .