Climates of the Past


This module develops knowledge and understanding of past climates experienced on Earth, primarily by learning about how to interpret climate archives.

There will also be coverage of modern climatology and a distinct focus on periods in the past which may serve as analogues for a warmer future.

The examples are drawn across the Cenozoic (65 Ma to present), but there is also a distinct focus on Pleistocene and Holocene climates and the coursework is focused around such Quaternary examples.

By the end of the module students should be able to:

  • Be able to engage with literature at the research frontier and developing both technical knowledge and critical appreciation of data quality and appropriate hypothesis building and testing.