MSCI/GEOL 782: Chemical Oceanography

Course Description: Chemical oceanography is they study of everything having to do with the chemistry of the ocean and includes not only the distribution of elements and their isotopes, but also how these elements interact to provide important clues into how the oceans work.  Studies in chemical oceanography span from global to microscopic lengths and cover minute to millennial timescales.  The goal of this course is not to teach you everything there is to know about chemical oceanography (although I’ll probably try), but rather to teach you how you can apply various chemical concepts to oceanographic questions. 

Course Organization: This course will consist of 1 midterm and one final exam (that will cover all aspects of the class) and 5-6 problem sets.  One NSF proposal (~ 10-15 pages) will be due at the end of the semester that focuses on a topic of your choosing (after discussion with me).  You will be expected to give a 15 minute AGU style presentation on this topic to the rest of the class.  We will also have several in class group discussions of assigned readings.

Text:   An Introduction to Marine Biogeochemistry by S. M. Libes

Papers from the literature and handouts. 

Non-required texts:

An Introduction to the Chemistry of the Sea. Michael Pilson

Marine Geochemistry, 2^nd ed. by Chester

Grading:         Homework:                                     25 %

Special topics paper:                      25 %                            

In Class AGU Style Presentation:   10 %          

Group Discussion                           10 %

Midterm                                          15 %                                                

Final                                               15 %                                                     

Lecture Notes:  Prior to the start of each class, I will make readings available on the web.  You should read these BEFORE coming to class.  I will cover some of the information during lecture as well as additional material.  I will then place my in class lecture notes on the web so that you can check your notes.

Course Outline: 

Introduction

Properties of Seawater

Salinity/Major Ions

Chemical Equilibrium

Activity Coefficients

Principle of Mass Balance

Why is SW salty?

Group Study #1 "What controls the Composition of Seawater?" Read papers GS#1

Biological Influences on Marine Chemistry

Life in the oceans from a chemical point of view

Biolimiting Elements and distributions

Group Study # 2 "Iron Geochemistry” Read papers GS#2

Chemical Equilibrium and Speciation

Acids and Bases

Carbonate Equilibrium - Carbonic Acid

Carbonate Equilibrium - Alkalinity and total CO2

Ocean Carbonate System

Composition of River and seawater revisited

Hydrothermal Vents

Diagenesis in Sediments (Suboxic and Anoxic Environments)

The Redox Sequence

Group Study #3 "What Controls Atmospheric CO2 and the Fate of Fossil Fuel CO2"

Isotope Geochemistry

Radiocarbon and Ocean Age

Tracers of Ocean Circulation

Group Study #4 "Atmospheric Record in Ice Cores: Read papers

Student Presentations