Aims: Students have knowledge on processes and mechanisms characterising ice-ages. They are able to describe ice-age processes mathematically, and have methodological expertise of the coupling between climate, ice, and the deformation of the solid earth. Students are able to perform tasks based on the exertise gained in the module and work independently on similar topics.

Content: Lecture: Ice ages as a phenomenon to gain information about the structure of the earth. Causes and consequences of global ice-age cycles. Reconstruction of ice cover. Observations related to ice-age cycles (land uplift and subsidence, sea-level, uplift rates, ...). Physical processes controlling ice cover and surface morphology. Seminar: Discussion of topics from the lecture with recent literature examples.