Arctic, Antarctic and alpine zones: natural environments, people and geopolitics 1900-AAAZ-OG

The lecture will address the following topics:
1. Distribution, types, structure, and thermal regime of permafrost; thermokarst processes – 2h
2. Engineering problems resulting from frost processes in the ground and methods of solving them – 2h
3. Mineral resources and industry in permafrost regions (selected investments) – 2h
4. Human settlements in the Arctic – 2h
5. Basics of glacier functioning and hazards to humans resulting from proximity to glaciers: glacier surges, ice avalanches, jökulhlaups – 6h
6. Examples of tourism development in polar and high-mountain regions – 2h
7. Issues related to Arctic Ocean sea ice (changes in sea ice, environmental and socio-economic impacts, shipping routes) – 4h
8. Pollution of polar areas – 2h
9. Indigenous peoples of the Arctic – 2h
10. Examples of modern polar stations and research projects – 2h
11. Geopolitical competition in polar regions – 4h

Student workload: 3 ECTS in direct contact with lecturer, 1 ECTS, for independent student work (writing a final essay)
(N) – work in direct contact with the teacher,
(S) – student's own (independent) work.
Classes (lecture) = 30 hours (N)
Independent essay writing = approx. 5 hours (S)
TOTAL = approx. 35 hours

Course coordinators

Maciej Dąbski

Type of course

general courses

Mode

Classroom

Prerequisites (description)

This course is intended for all students, regardless of their field of study and level.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge
• knows the distribution, types, structure, and thermal regime of permafrost and understands thermokarst processes
• knows examples of development in permafrost areas
• understands engineering challenges related to frost processes in soils and methods of solving them
• knows the basics of glacier functioning
• understands hazards to humans related to proximity to glaciers
• knows examples of high-mountain development
• understands issues related to Arctic Ocean ice (changes in extent and thickness, environmental and socio-economic impacts, shipping routes)
• knows examples of modern polar stations and research projects
• has basic knowledge of pollution in polar regions
• is familiar with the current geopolitical situation in polar regions

Skills
• can identify regions of permafrost occurrence and estimate its characteristics and thickness
• can predict permafrost response to climate warming
• can anticipate infrastructure risks caused by frost processes and identify prevention methods
• can predict hazards related to mountain glaciers
• can forecast geopolitical trends in polar regions
• can find sources of information on polar areas

Attitudes
• understands the specificity of managing cold regions (polar and high-mountain)
• evaluates the impact of climate warming on the environment
• assesses the current geopolitical situation in polar regions

Assessment criteria

Summative assessment in a form of an essay on one of the issues referred to during the lecture.
The grade from the essay constitutes 50% of the final grade, attendance - another 50%.
Unjustified absence on 8 lectures results in failure of the subject.
The best grade (5) is given in case of high attendance (max 2 unjustified absences) and the essay which significantly broadens the lecture content.
It is possible to pass a re-sit session on the same terms.

Bibliography

Following readings are recommended but they are not compulsory.
• Benn, D.I., Evans, D.J.A. (1998). Glaciers and Glaciation. Arnold.
• Glossary of Permafrost and Related Ground-Ice Terms: https://www.permafrost.org/publication/glossary-of-permafrost-and-related-ground-ice-terms/
• https://arctic.noaa.gov/
• https://www.noaa.gov/topic-tags/antarctica
Due to the rapidly changing geopolitical situation and availability of online materials, students will be regularly provided with current articles and valuable websites.

Additional information

Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes: