Course Description
The chemical forms, distributions, and reactivities of major and minor elements in seawater. The use of chemical tracers to investigate biological and physical processes in the ocean.
Athena Title
Chemical Oceanography
Prerequisite
CHEM 1212 and CHEM 1212L and PHYS 1112-1112L and MATH 2210 and MATH 2210L
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Students will receive an extended description of the chemical properties of marine systems and pertinent chemical processes operating in the ocean. The chemical interactions of seawater with sediments, the atmosphere and the biosphere will be discussed. Students are expected to have had knowledge in general chemistry and oceanography, and high motivation in learning. Students will be evaluated with one midterm exam, one final exam, and a series of homework problems.
Topical Outline
Introduction Major Element Geochemical Cycles Major Composition of Seawater; Salinity Evaporites Geochemical Cycles of Major Elements Hydrothermal Processes and Material Balance in the Ocean Ionic Interactions in Water Structure of Liquid Water Ion in Water Ion-Ion Interaction The Debye-Huekel Theory Dissolved Gases other than CO2 Composition of the Atmosphere Gas Solubility Rates of Gas Exchange across the Air-Sea Interface O2 Distribution in the Oceans Home work Discussion: O2 Dynamics Acid-Base Equilibrium: CO2-Co3=System The Carbon Dioxide System in Seawater Alkalinity and Total CO2 Distribution Saturation with Respect to Calcite Compensation Depth and Lysocline Global CO2 Cycle Future Problems in CO2 Biogeochemical Cycling of Micronutrients (N,P, Si), and Their Relationship with O2 and CO2 - A Summary Upper Ocean Processes Composition of Marine Organic Matter; Refield Ratio Distribution of O2, CO2, N, P, and Si in the World Ocean Control Mechanisms that Operating in the Sea, A Box Model View Some Details of Marine N and P Cycles Redox Equilibrium Redox Equilibrium: Half Reactions and pe (Eh) Real World Redox Chemistry - Microbial Processes pH-Eh(pe) Diagrams Water Column Redox Chemistry Sediment Redox Chemistry Trace Elements in the Oceans Analytical Considerations Distributions Trace Metals in Hydrothermal Processes Rare Earth Elements Trace Metal Speciation Reading and Discussion: Biological Production and The Speciation of Bioactive Trace Metals Introduction to Radionuclides: U/Th SEries, Cosmogenic and Anthropogenic Radionuclides Organic Geochemistry
Syllabus
Public CV