PALEOCLIMATOLOGY
Learning outcomes of the course unit
The course aims to provide students with the tools for addressing the classical issues or the most recent developments in paleoclimatology through the knowledge of the basic elements that allow the reconstruction and the development of the environments and of the paleoclimate in a chronological framework
Prerequisites
1) Earth’s modern climate and processes; 2) the broad details of Earth’s climate history and in particular for the
past 250 Ma; in detail the past 65 Ma 3) the main proxies used to reconstruct past climate; 4) the Greenhouse effect and role of the carbon cycle in Earth’s climate; 5) the role of ice sheets, ocean circulation, and orbital insolation on Earth’s climate; 6) changes in sea level related to climate change; 7) main characteristics of climate of the common era (last 2 ka),
Course contents
The climate and climate change. The climate system. Surface and Deep Ocean Circulation, atmosphere-ocean interactions Archives and proxy for the paleoclimatic reconstructions. Oxygen and carbon Stable isotopes. Climate change at different time-scales: reconstruction of the climate of the Earth from Precambrian to Quaternary with particular focus on the main geological, biological and climatic events.
Recommended readings
Earth's Climate- Ruddiman W.
'Paleoclimates: Understanding Climate Change Past and Present' by Thomas M. Cronin
Teaching methods
lessons
Assessment methods and criteria
oral test
