SEED Sixth Form Lecture: Glaciated landscapes: Changes in the world’s ice sheets and glaciers
| Dates: | 5 December 2018 |
|---|
| Times: | 16:30 - 18:00 |
|---|
| What is it: | Lecture |
|---|
| Organiser: | School of Environment, Education and Development |
|---|
| How much: | Free |
|---|
| Who is it for: | Post 16 |
|---|
| Speaker: | Dr Christopher Darvill |
|---|
|
In this lecture, we will look at what defines current ice masses on Earth and how they have changed in the past. Over the last 2.6 million years, glaciers and continental-scale ice sheets have repeatedly expanded and contracted, during periods commonly referred to as ‘Ice Ages’. Piecing together the relationship between ice and climate in the past can help us to better understand changes in the Earth system over time.
We will also think about the complex links between changes in the amount of ice on land and fluctuations in global and local sea-level. At the peak of the last glaciation, global sea-level was around 120m lower than the present, exposing land bridges for ancient human migration between the continents. Understanding the subsequent rise in sea-level – as large ice sheets melted – is important for placing contemporary sea-level rise in context. We will think about global versus local effects and the difference between isostatic and eustatic response.
Finally, we will consider how the world’s ice sheets and glaciers are changing at present in relation to ongoing climate change. We will think about the effects of a warming world on mountain glaciers compared to the large polar ice sheets, and consider some of the changes projected for the future.
This lecture will ask you to think big and consider changes in glaciers and ice sheets on a global scale. The lecture topics are relevant to the study of glaciated landscapes, water resources, coastal processes, climate science and human society.
Group booking: https://apps.mhs.manchester.ac.uk/surveys//TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=84KH4lmK3
Individual booking: https://apps.mhs.manchester.ac.uk/surveys//TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=84KH4m5K3
Speaker
Dr Christopher Darvill
Role: Lecturer in Quaternary Environmental Change (Physical Geography)
Organisation: The University of Manchester
Biography: View Christopher's academic profile
Travel and Contact Information
Find event
G6
Humanities Bridgeford Street
Manchester
