EAS / SES / NTRES 3030
Fall Semester 2009
Introduction to Biogeochemistry
General information:
Instructor:
Joseph B. Yavitt, 16 Fernow, ext. 5-6601, <jby1@cornell.edu>
Teaching Assistant: Greg Kirkpatrick, 4120 Snee <gjk28@cornell.edu>
Class meetings:
T-R, 12:20 – 1:10, 2146 Snee Hall
Lab Sections:
M or R, 2:00 – 4:25, 2152 Snee Hall (site may vary as arranged): sessions
will include field trips, analyses in the Environmental Chemistry
Laboratory (Hollister 150), computer labs, and discussion.
Course Website:
Textbook:
Grading:
http://www.geo.cornell.edu/geology/classes/eas3030
Jacobson MC and others, 2000, Earth System Science, Elsevier Academic
Press
preliminary exams 40%; problem sets / labs 40%; final exam 20%.
Class and lab schedule:
The schedule is subject to change. Changes will be announced in class and posted on the web
site.
Readings listed are from Jacobson et al. Additional readings from primary sources will be
handed out or posted to the website as needed.
Aug 27
Introduction: biogeochemical systems and cycling
Chap. 1
Sep 1
The Biosphere
Sep 3
Chemical reactions in natural systems
Week 1 Field: A Walk in the woods
Chap. 3
Chap. 5
Sep 8
Water and the hydrosphere
Sep 10
The Atmosphere
Week 2 Lab: Reservoir dynamics
Chap. 6
Chap. 7
Chap. 4
Sep 15
Weathering processes
Sep 17
Weathering, continued
Week 3 Lab: Mineralogy
pp. 159-164
pp. 288-292
Sep 22
Soils
Sep 24
Soils, continued
Week 4 Field: Soils
pp. 164-177
pp. 292-297
Sep 29
Watershed processes
Oct 1
Prelim exam 1
Week 5 Lab: Soil carbon and cereal analyses
pp. 177-190
Oct 6
Terrestrial net primary production
Oct 8
Terrestrial decomposition
Week 6 Field: Estimating NPP
pp.297-303
Oct 13
Fall Break
Oct 15
Terrestrial nutrient cycling
Week 7 Field: Stream sampling
Oct 20
In Stream processes
Oct 22
The Oceans
Week 8 Lab: Solute chemistry
Chap. 9
Chap. 10
Oct 27
Marine carbonate chemistry
Oct 29
Marine carbonate chemistry, continued
Week 9 Lab: Alkalinity
Nov 3
Global Carbon cycle
Nov 5
Prelim exam II
Week 10 Lab: Global carbon data set
Chap. 11
Nov 10
Marine NPP
Nov 12
Marine NPP, continued
Week 11 Lab: Modeling the seasonal CO2 cycle
Chap. 12
Chap. 14
Nov 17
Marine sediments
Nov 19
Global Nitrogen cycle
Week 12 Lab: Diffusive processes in soils and sediments
pp. 429-438
Nov 24
Global Sulfur cycle
Nov 26
Thanksgiving
Week 13 Lab: no lab
Dec 1
Dec 3
Global Phosphorus cycle
Human impacts
Final Exam date: Wednesday 16 December, 9:00 – 11:30 am