Faculty of Natural and Health Sciences
University of the Faroe Islands
Application
 for participation in the course:
Ecology of the Northeast Atlantic and Northwest European Seas with an
emphasis on potential impacts of Climate Change.
Period: 20-31.08.2012.
Course description, - see page 2.
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The application, including enclosures (in *.pdf format) should be sent to knuds@setur.fo
no later than 31'th of May, 2012.
Course description:
ECTS
5
Title
Ecology of the Northeast Atlantic and Northwest European Seas with an emphasis on
potential impacts of Climate Change.
The aim of the course is to give the students an overview of the main components
of the ecosystems in the region (the Northeast Atlantic, Nordic Seas, and Northwest
European Seas) and of the fundamental processes that govern these systems with
a focus on the changes that can be expected from a changing climate. This
includes physical characteristics, such as temperature, salinity, and currents, and
the processes that govern these. It also includes the main biotic components of the
ecosystems and the processes that link these to one another and to the physical
conditions in the sea and the atmosphere. All trophic levels will be included to the
extent that available knowledge and time permit, but special emphasis will be on the
commercially important stocks.
1. Large-scale features and climate signals General description of the
Northeast Atlantic and Nordic Seas. NAO, AO, GSA, Subpolar gyre
changes, Regime shifts etc of the northern North Atlantic and Nordic Seas.
Nutrient and Carbon chemistry of the region. Paleoceanography of the
region.
2. The Northeast Atlantic domain: The flow of Atlantic Water into the Nordic
Seas, water mass distribution etc. The ecosystems in the area, Calanus
Finmarchicus, Pelagic species (Norwegian spring spawning herring,
Mackerel, Blue whiting), case studies (e.g., Faroe Shelf).
3. The Subarctic domain: The influence of Atlantic and Polar Water on the
western Nordic Seas, Irminger Sea, and West Greenland area, water mass
distribution etc. The ecosystem in the area, Zooplankton, Pelagic species
(Capelin), Cod, case studies (e.g. Iceland/ Greenland cod).
4. Large shelf areas. The Barents Sea, Ice edge processes, Polar ecology
(Capelin, Cod), The North Sea including Skagerrak, Kattegat, and Baltic
Sea.
Objective
Subject
Teaching
The total course duration is 10 days with 8 full days of lectures and associated exercises
and assignments.
Evaluation The course is graded as pass/fail. The students are required to give two oral
presentations and a written report.
Material
Excerpts from books and scientific papers.
Prerequisites Bachelor degree in Marine Biology, Oceanography or equivalent.