Module Information

Module Identifier
GS32330
Module Title
The Quaternary History of Svalbard (UNIS)
Academic Year
2025/2026
Co-ordinator
Dr Tristram Irvine-Fynn
Semester
Semester 1

Course Delivery

 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment ASSESSED TERM PROJECT (WRITTEN REPORT AND ORAL PRESENTATION)  40%
Semester Assessment 3 Hours   WRITTEN 3 HOUR EXAM  60%
Supplementary Assessment ASSESSED TERM PROJECT (WRITTEN REPORT AND ORAL PRESENTATION)  40%
Supplementary Assessment 3 Hours   WRITTEN 3 HOUR EXAM  60%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

  1. Describe and explain the long-term climatic fluctuations between glacial and interglacial periods in the Arctic and former climatic conditions on Svalbard
  2. Evaluate Quaternary landscape evolution, and the corresponding sedimentary record of Svalbard, in the light of Quaternary environment change
  3. Discuss the role of postglacial relative land uplift and the formation of raised marine coastal sequences
  4. Assess the relative importance of geomorphological processes active during glacial and interglacial periods to the formation of tills, glaciofluvial deposits, lacustrine deposits and landforms produced during deglaciation
  5. Select and justify the application of different field methods and data interpretation techniques (including field mapping) to the study Quaternary of landscape change

Brief description

Students will be introduced to the Quaternary history of Svalbard, within the context of long-term climatic fluctuations between glacial and interglacial periods in the Arctic. The module will explain the Quaternary landscape evolution and sedimentary record of the Svalbard.

Content

  • Climate variations within the Arctic, including long-term climatic fluctuations between glacial and interglacial periods in the Arctic.
  • Quaternary landscape evolution and the sedimentary record of Svalbard.
  • The formation of glacial and interglacial sedimentary sequences during the last glacial/interglacial cycle
  • Postglacial relative land uplift and raised marine coastal sequences.
  • Tills, glaciofluvial deposits, lacustrine deposits and landforms produced during deglaciation.
  • Field methods, including mapping techniques and methods of data interpretation.

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number Not directly developed.
Communication For the assessed term project, students complete both a written report and an oral presentation .
Improving own Learning and Performance Developed during fieldwork and in private study.
Information Technology Library usage of journal papers and web-searches will be undertaken. Students will use Web of Knowledge and other electronic data retrieval packages in literature searches.
Personal Development and Career planning Not directly developed.
Problem solving Problem solving is addressed during fieldwork .
Research skills Research skills are developed during fieldwork, and in subsequent report writing .
Subject Specific Skills Fieldwork skills, including data collection and analysis
Team work Team work is developed during fieldwork, and in subsequent report writing.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6