ANTA102-18S1 (C) Semester One 2018

Antarctica: The Cold Continent

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 19 February 2018
End Date: Sunday, 24 June 2018
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Friday, 2 March 2018
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Friday, 18 May 2018

Description

This introductory course explores the evolution of the Antarctic continent, the dynamics of polar ice, the drivers of weather and climate in Antarctica, the circulation of the Southern Ocean, astronomy and human interaction with the polar region including the history of exploration and intriguing legal issues.

Summary of Course Content
• Geological evolution of the Antarctic
• Dynamics of Antarctic ice
• Antarctic weather and climate
• Atmospheric physics, the ozone hole and climate change
• Astronomy and the role of the polar regions
• History of Antarctic exploration
• Energy service systems in extreme environments

Learning Outcomes

  • The goal of this course is to give students a broad understanding of the physical characteristics of and the human interactions with Antarctica. This is achieved by introducing students to topics within the disciplines of geology, geography, history, physics and glaciology of the South Polar region, with a theme of global climate change running through the course.

    By course completion students will be able to:
  • Describe and understand the physical characteristics of Antarctica;
  • Begin to question how the Antarctic is a driver of and responder to climate change;
  • Begin to develop personal ideas on the value of maintaining Antarctica as a natural reserve devoted to peace and science;
  • Understand the role of energy service systems in supporting the activities in Antarctica, the proportionate energy demand for different services and the issues for sustainability.
    • University Graduate Attributes

      This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:

      Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their award

      Students know and can critically evaluate and, where applicable, apply this knowledge to topics/issues within their majoring subject.

Restrictions

INCO103, ANTA101, ANTA112

Course Coordinator / Lecturer

Wolfgang Rack

Lecturers

Adrian McDonald , Ursula Rack , Susan Krumdieck , Laura Revell , Jonathan Davidson and Chrissy EMENY

Contact Person

Carey Treleaven

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage 
Assessment 1 - Glaciology 12.5%
Assessment 2 - Astronomy 12.5%
Assessment 3 - Weather and Climate 12.5%
Assessment 4 - Geology 12.5%
Exam 50%


A two hour exam worth 50% and 4 internal assesments worth 12.5% each.  

Details of the actual internal assesment will be provided in the course outline but topics are likley to include:
• Glaciology
• Weather and Climate
• Geology
• Astronomy

Textbooks / Resources

Recommended Reading

Berkman, Paul Arthur; Science into policy : global lessons from Antarctica ; Academic Press, 2002.

Chaturvedi, Sanjay; The polar regions : a political geography ; Published in association with the Scott Polar Research Institute by J. Wiley, 1996.

Crossley, Louise , Australian Antarctic Foundation., Australian Surveying and Land Information Group; Explore Antarctica ; Cambridge University Press, 1995.

McGonigal, David , Woodworth, Lynn; Antarctica : the blue continent ; Random House New Zealand, 2002.

Riffenburgh, Beau; Encyclopedia of the Antarctic ; Routledge, 2007.

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 Textbook Required.

Course links

Library portal

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $865.00

International fee $3,788.00

* 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 .

All ANTA102 Occurrences

  • ANTA102-18S1 (C) Semester One 2018