Z5099 Geography of Polar regions

Faculty of Science
Spring 2025

The course is not taught in Spring 2025

Extent and Intensity
2/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Filip Hrbáček, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. Mgr. Kamil Láska, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. Mgr. Daniel Nývlt, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Kamil Láska, Ph.D.
Department of Geography – Earth Sciences Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: doc. Mgr. Kamil Láska, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Geography – Earth Sciences Section – Faculty of Science
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Lectures provide basic information about physical geography conditions of the Arctic and Antarctic, the history of discoveries and/or colonization of these regions. Part of the course is the assessment of the importance of polar regions in the context of the whole planet Earth, especially in relation to atmospheric circulation, energy and mass exchange in adjacent oceans and seas. Particular attention is paid to the cryosphere (glaciers, frozen soil), its sensitivity to climate change, and the possible consequences of its damage (methane release, collapse of ice shelves, sea level rise).
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, the students will have the knowledge about the physical geography conditions of the Arctic and Antarctic, the history of discoveries and/or colonization of these regions. At the same time should understand the importance of the polar regions in the context of the entire planet Earth and in relation to atmospheric circulation, the exchange of energy and matter in the adjacent oceans and seas.
Syllabus
  • Regional geography of Antarctica: meteorology and climatology, geology and geomorphology, glaciology and hydrology, flora and fauna, discovering and exploring Antarctica.
  • Regional geography of the Arctic: climatology and glaciology, geology and geomorphology, flora and fauna, discovering and exploring the Arctic.
Literature
  • A complete guide to Arctic wildlife. Photo by Richard Sale - Per Michelsen. Buffalo, N.Y.: Firefly Books, 2006, 464 s. ISBN 155407178X. info
  • KING, John Chritopher and J. TURNER. Antarctic meteorology and climatology. 1st publ. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997, xi, 409 s. ISBN 0-521-46560-5. info
  • Polar lakes and rivers : limnology of Arctic and Antarctic aquatic ecosystems. Edited by Warwick F. Vincent - Johanna Laybourn-Parry. 1st pub. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008, xviii, 327. ISBN 9780199213894. info
  • PRZYBYLAK, Rajmund. The climate of the Arctic. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2003, xi, 270. ISBN 1402011342. info
  • THURMAN, Harold V. and Alan P. TRUJILLO. Oceánografie : [tajemný svět moří a oceánů]. Translated by Adam Petrusek. Vyd. 1. Praha: Computer Press, 2005, viii, 479. ISBN 8025103536. info
Bookmarks
https://is.muni.cz/ln/tag/PříF:Z5099!
Teaching methods
The lectures use the latest information obtained from scientific articles, professional and popular educational books. Subtopics are presented in relation to the individual components of the physical geography, the basic processes and phenomena occurring in the polar regions. Seminars take the form of individual work and thematic presentations.
Assessment methods
Participation on the seminars is compulsory. The necessary condition for obtaining credits is the oral presentation of the chosen topic related to the polar regions. Final examination is in the written form.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught only once.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2010 - only for the accreditation, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011 - acreditation, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2020, autumn 2021, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/spring2025/Z5099