Paleoceanography - Introduction

This event provides the basics for understanding the states and processes of ocean and climate in the geological past. The following topics are covered:
The role of the ocean in the climate system - Archives and proxies of paleoceanography - The complex delta18O signal - Reconstructions of the surface layer, the deep and groundwater masses - Paleoproductivity - Reconstruction of the ocean circulation - Continental climate changes from marine archives - Changes in ocean and climate on orbital timescales since Pliocene - climate and ocean during the last glacial maximum - changes in ocean and climate on time scales from decades to millennia - possible future changes in the ocean

At the end of the course, the participants have an understanding of the following questions: Which methods can be used to reconstruct previous oceanic conditions and changes? How has the ocean changed in recent Earth history? Which current questions are currently being pursued in paleoceanography? Where are the limits of our knowledge? What possible changes in ocean circulation can be expected in the future?

Summative assessment through written exam in parallel lecture course 05-BMG-PO1-2

written exam

Will be provided during the course.

1st SWS: Introduction to Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology
2nd SWS: The role of the ocean in the climate system
3rd SWS: Sea-surface Temperature variations
4th SWS: Archives and proxies of paleoceanography I
5th SWS: The complex delta18O signal
6th SWS: Reconstructions of the surface layer, the deep and
7th SWS: Paleoproductivity
8th SWS: Reconstruction of ocean circulation
9th SWS: Continental climate changes from marine archives
10th SWS: Changes of ocean and climate on orbital timescales
11th SWS: Climate and ocean during the last glacial maximum
12th SWS: Changes in ocean and climate on time scales from decades to millennia
13th SWS: Large scale climatic events (PETM, Onset of Antarctic glaciation)
14th SWS: Open Topics & Revision