GEOG312-26S2 (C) Semester Two 2026

Snow, Ice and Climate

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 13 July 2026
End Date: Sunday, 8 November 2026
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 26 July 2026
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 27 September 2026

Description

This course examines the physical processes involved with the formation and evolution of mountain glaciers and seasonal snow, including processes such as surface mass balance, dynamics and hydrology. The course develops knowledge by drawing on key research, and encourages students to critically evaluate published work. The supporting lab programme will enable students to develop a range of transferable skills by working with real data and equipment, for example, ground penetrating radar (GPR), snowpit analysis, and simple glacier models.

Prerequisites

30 points of 200-level Geography and a further 15 pts at 200-level from any of GEOG, ENVR, GEOL, ANTA, WATR, BIOL, or
in special cases with approval of the Head of School.

Timetable 2026

Students must attend one activity from each section.

Lecture A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Monday 13:00 - 15:00 Ernest Rutherford 164 Geog/Geol Lab
13 Jul - 23 Aug
7 Sep - 18 Oct
Computer Lab A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Tuesday 14:00 - 16:00 Ernest Rutherford 164 Geog/Geol Lab (21/7, 6/10)
Jack Erskine 001 Computer Lab (4/8, 15/9)
20 Jul - 26 Jul
3 Aug - 9 Aug
14 Sep - 20 Sep
5 Oct - 11 Oct
Optional A (Optional)
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01-P1 Monday 08:00 - 00:00 McKenzie/Aoraki
24 Aug - 30 Aug
01-P2 Tuesday 00:00 - 00:00 McKenzie/Aoraki
24 Aug - 30 Aug
01-P3 Wednesday 00:00 - 09:00 McKenzie/Aoraki
24 Aug - 30 Aug

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage 
Online quizzes (x3) 15%
Lab completion 10%
Written report 35%
Final Examination 40%

Textbooks / Resources

Recommended Reading

Benn, Douglas I. , Evans, David J. A; Glaciers & glaciation ; 2nd ed; Hodder Education, 2010.

Cuffey, Kurt. , Paterson, W. S. B; The physics of glaciers ; 4th ed; Butterworth-Heinemann/Elsevier, 2010.

Course links

Library portal

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,058.00

International fee $5,388.00

* 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 School of Earth and Environment on the departments and faculties page .

All GEOG312 Occurrences

  • GEOG312-26S2 (C) Semester Two 2026