Ice is an essential element of Earth's global climate system. This course introduces undergraduate and graduate students to the physics of ice on Earth and other Planetary bodies. Drawing from basic physical concepts, mathematical modeling, and different observations, we discuss how ice forms, deforms, and melts through its interactions with other elements of the climate system including the atmosphere, the ocean and the ground beneath. Students will gain an appreciation for the variety of physical processes relevant in the cryosphere, the outsized importance of ice sheets for the global climate system, and the large gaps that remain in our understanding. Recommended Prerequisite: MATH 51 or equivalent.
3 units · Letter or Credit/No Credit
Ice is an essential element of Earth's global climate system. This course introduces undergraduate and graduate students to the physics of ice on Earth and other Planetary bodies. Drawing from basic physical concepts, mathematical modeling, and different observations, we discuss how ice forms, deforms, and melts through its interactions with other elements of the climate system including the atmosphere, the ocean and the ground beneath. Students will gain an appreciation for the variety of physical processes relevant in the cryosphere, the outsized importance of ice sheets for the global climate system, and the large gaps that remain in our understanding. Recommended Prerequisite: MATH 51 or equivalent.
Offered in Spring 2026 at Stanford University.