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

Nakład pracy studenta: w bezpośrednim kontakcie z wykładowcą: 3 ECTS, praca samodzielna studenta 1 ETCS (napisanie eseju zaliczeniowego)
(N) – praca w bezpośrednim kontakcie z nauczycielem,
(S) – praca własna (samodzielna) studenta.
Zajęcia (wykład) = 30h (N)
Samodzielne napisanie eseju = ok. 5h (S)
RAZEM = ok. 35 h

Koordynatorzy przedmiotu

Maciej Dąbski

Rodzaj przedmiotu

ogólnouniwersyteckie

Tryb prowadzenia

w sali

Założenia (opisowo)

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

Efekty kształcenia

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

Kryteria oceniania

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.

Literatura

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.

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