Course Description
An overview of global biogeochemical cycles, with emphasis on the role of the ocean, including box models and both fundamental principles and quantitative analyses. Focus is on modern day conditions, but glacial-interglacial changes and effects of global change are included.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will be required to complete a research paper
that presents an integrated review of primary research and is
extended and applied towards a topic of the student's choosing
and professor's approval.
Athena Title
GLOBAL BGC CYCLES
Prerequisite
Permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Elemental turnover processes are important in modifying the earth's lithosphere, hydroshpere and atmosphere. The objective of this course is to gain working knowledge of global biogeochemical cycles, focusing on the role of the ocean. Contemporary cycling of C,N,P,Si as well as other nutrients will be discussed in both a qualitative and quantitative context, and the interactions between these cycles will be highlighted. Graduate students will be required to write a research paper.
Topical Outline
Introduction & Overview: Biogeochemistry, timescales and concepts of cycles Fundamentals: The origin of elements, transport processes, chemical aspects (Phase change, speciation, redox, isotopes) Budgets: Ocean composition, salt content Box Models Earth system compartments: atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere/global water cycle, biosphere Ocean transport: Circulation patterns, tracers of mixing, ocean provinces The pumps: Air-Sea exchange, particle transport, biological pump, solubility pump Inputs: Rivers, weathering, vents Marine organic matter cycling: Production, export and remineralization, sediments Global cycles: Si, carbon, P,N,S,Fe,O2, trace metals Coupling of biogeochemical cycles Glacial-interglacial patterns: P, pCO2, biota Global change: Climate and the carbon cycle, impact of land use changes, ocean acidification, alterations of biological and solubility pumps Role of gatekeepers/Interfaces: Coastal ocean, marshes
Syllabus