Snow and Ice on the Earth’s Surface

Course Details

  • Acronym ATMOS 511/ESS 532
  • Instructor(s) Knut Christianson , Stephen G. Warren
  • Quarter Spring 2026
  • Credits 3
  • Meeting Times MW 10:30 AM - 11:50 AM
  • Location JHN 027
  • Fullfills GCeCS Applications Course
  • Prerequisites Permission of instructor

Course Description

Topics:

  • geography of snow and ice; climates of Antarctica and Greenland
  • physical chemistry of ice and water
  • formation of ice crystals in clouds
  • thermal properties of snow and ice
  • snow metamorphism
  • sea-ice formation and structure; growth and melt of sea ice
  • interaction of solar and infrared radiation with snow and sea ice
  • remote sensing of snow and sea ice
  • colors of ice and snow
  • effects of wind on snow
  • snow surface energy budget
  • glacier mass balance
  • “marine ice” on ice shelves
  • Snowball Earth
  • suncups on melting snow; snow spikes on tropical mountains
  • recent changes in sea ice, glaciers, and ice sheets

ATMOS 511 Photo