Paleolimnology

In a glaciated region like the Northeast, lacustrine sediments can be analyzed to interpret evolution of a lake and the surrounding catchment since deglaciation. Students in this class will core a local lake through the ice and work in small groups analyzing the core in the laboratory. The results will be pooled, allowing each student to interpret the postglacial sedimentary, geomorphic, and ecologic history of the lake basin. Students will work independently and collectively, and will gain experience working with actual data on a project where the outcome is not known beforehand. Winter outdoor experience strongly recommended.