EAE3051 · Palaeoclimatology: Discovering Earth's past climate

Overview

Palaeoclimatology is the study of past changes to Earth's climate. You will study past climate changes across different time scales in order to provide context for present-day human-induced climate change. You will examine the evolution of Earth's climate from the formation of our planet to the present day; develop foundation knowledge of the methods used to reconstruct past climates using climate archives and proxy records; and examine the physical processes causing past changes in climate. The role of human influence on the climate will be explored from the time of early Homo sapiens through to the industrial revolution. In this unit, you will apply and consolidate skills in deductive reasoning, critical thinking, quantitative analysis, communication (written and oral), and interpersonal relations. Your learning will be achieved through lectures, active participation workshops, practicals, and, when possible, field trips. This unit will build on your prior study in climate, earth, atmosphere, environment or geographical sciences.

Areas of study: Earth science Environmental science Geographical science Human geography

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. Describe the history of the Earth's climate system from the formation of Earth (4 billion years ago) to the present.
2. Contrast and compare physical, chemical and biological proxies of climate and understand the techniques used to extract past climate information from these proxies.
3. Interpret past climate changes from reconstructions developed from palaeoclimate proxies and simulations using climate models. Quantify and evaluate the uncertainties in these reconstructions.
4. Describe the processes causing Earth's past climate changes and explain the key ways in which these processes influence climate.
5. Evaluate the role that humans have played in influencing the Earth’s climate system, and distinguish the key differences between present-day climate change and climate changes prior to the industrial revolution.
6. Perform simple quantitative analyses to provide evidence-based arguments for past climate changes, and effectively communicate ideas in written and oral formats.

Workload

The workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours spread across the semester (approximately 12 hours per week) through a mixture of attendance at scheduled activities and self-scheduled study time. Learning activities comprise a mixture of instructor-directed, peer-directed and self-directed learning, which includes face-to-face and online engagement.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.