The course focusses on the key interactive processes involving the planet’s oceans and cryosphere. The course is divided into two distinct halves – the first week concentrates on sea ice phenomena, while the second week addresses ice sheet phenomena. The material presented is mainly, but not exclusively, Antarctic / Southern Hemisphere in nature. The content builds on the information delivered in 2A Introduction to Weather and Climate and 2B Oceanography of the Southern Ocean.

Part 1 of the subject deals with the physics of sea ice and the effects of sea ice on ocean conditions. The component lectures cover topics such as: the dynamics and thermodynamics of sea ice; the relative importance of pack ice and fast ice; remote sensing of sea ice; thickness, concentration and volume considerations; polynya processes; biochemical considerations of sea ice.

Part 2 of the subject shifts the emphasis to the (Antarctic) ice sheet and its floating regions (glaciers and ice shelves) as the primary loci of ocean / ice sheet interactions. The component lectures cover topics such as: ice sheet mass balance and its implications for sea level; application of satellite remote sensing to ice sheet / ice shelf studies; modelling of ice sheet processes; ice-shelf / ocean interaction with an emphasis on processes that connect deep ocean properties to shallow continental shelf areas.