EAE3051 Palaeoclimatology: Discovering Earth's past climate

Palaeoclimatology is the study of changes to Earth's climate across the vast timescales of the entire history of our planet. This unit will examine the evolution of Earth's climate from the formation of our planet to the present. It will feature the history and context of humankind and how past changes relate to anthropogenic climate change. The unit will provide a foundation in key climate proxy records and the methods used to reconstruct the climate of the past. It will examine the physical processes causing past changes in climate. The unit will emphasise the cultivation of scientific creativity through flexible learning, active participation, workshops and practicals. The unit includes, where possible, a site visit to an ice-core laboratory, guest seminars from leading researchers in the field and the exploration of the latest data and technology in practicals and assessments.