Glaciology at UNIS

Today was the first day of lectures for my coursework in Glaciology here at UNIS. The class is given by Doug Benn, a professor in the Arctic Geology department, Regine Hock from the University of Fairbanks Alaska, Nick Hulton of the University of Edinburgh, and Ian Rutt and Tavi Murry both from the University of Swansea.

The course is a systematic survey of modern research into glacial processes and the response of glaciers and ice sheets to climate change. During the course we are going to be looking at recent changes to arctic glaciers, the principles of mass balance measurement and monitoring, glacier hydrology, glacier motion and dynamics, surges, calving (huge chunks falling off into the ocean), and numerical modelling. The course consists of a combination of lectures, seminars, computer-based practical classes, and excursions - the field work! I understand that we are going to be going out into the field once a week on Wednesdays, so let's hope for awesome weather on those days!