Chemical Oceanography, Spring 2012
11:628:472 or 01:628:472 (undergrad); and 16:712:540 (grad)
Time and place:
Monday and Thursday 9:15-10:35 AM (1st period), Lipman House (Cook Campus)
(assigned) Thompson Hall, room 101 (we may revert there if Lipman is too small)
Instructors:
Silke Severmann
IMCS Room 303D phone 848-932-23488
silke@marine.rutgers.edu
Liz Sikes
IMCS Room 114C phone 848-932-23257
sikes@marine.rutgers.edu
Course Goals:
The goal of this course is to teach students how to apply basic chemical concepts to understand the
biogeochemical cycles and distributions of chemical constituents in the ocean. The course will cover
major geochemical cycles including the major nutrients, the carbon/carbonate system and sedimentary
diagenesis and focus on the interdisciplinary nature of modern problems in chemical oceanography. The
use of chemical constituents as tracers for understanding biochemical cycles and their use in paleo
reconstructions of ocean processes will also be covered. Interactive problem solving will be emphasized
in assignments so that students gain experience using chemical data to understand the processes
governing marine systems. Current research problems in chemical oceanography will be brought in
though reading of the scientific literature for the preparation of the term paper.
Textbook:
Susan Libes, “Introduction to Marine Biogeochemistry”, 2nd Edition, ISBN 978-0-12-088530-5
This will be our primary textbook, but especially for those of you doing a PhD in Chemical
Oceanography or a related field, we also recommend:
Steve Emerson and John Hedges, “Chemical Oceanography and the Marine Carbon Cycle, ISBN 978-0521-83313-4
Basis for the grade:
Three exams (not cumulative) 20% each
One term paper
Homeworks (approx 5) so 3% each
total 60%
total 25%
total 15%
Paper topic:
Pick a classic conundrum or scientific paradox in marine chemistry. Research the subject thoroughly
from both sides and present the argument and supporting data for both. Take a stand and draw your
justifiable conclusion to the question.
Date
Lecture #
Lecturer
Topic
.
Section I Mass Balances/Nutrients and Biological influences in the Water Column
19-Jan
1
Liz
Major ions/ geochemical mass balance
23-Jan
2 HW1
Liz
Rates and Processes /residence time
26-Jan
3
Kat
Recitation
30-Jan
4
Liz
Nutrients and distributions/conveyor belt and biological pump
2-Feb
5 HW1due
Liz
Nitrogen cycle
6-Feb
6 HW2
Liz
Carbon Cycle
9-Feb
7
Liz
Organic Matter Production/DOC and POC in the water column
13-Feb
8
Liz
Dissolved gasses / air-sea gas exchange, and CO2
16-Feb
9
Silke
Carbonate System Alkalinity, TCO2
20- Feb
10 HW2 due Silke
Trace Elements and their uses
23-Feb
11
EXAM 1
Section II sediment processes and solid/water interactions
27-Feb
12 HW3
Silke
Hydrothermal vent systems and trace metals exchange
1-Mar
13
Silke
The silicon cycle
5-Mar
14 HW3 due Silke
Radioisotopes
8-Mar
15
Liz
Light Stable isotopes *Paper topics due*
12 and 15 Mar
SPRING BREAK
19-Mar
16 HW4
Silke
Heavier and swankier Stable isotopes
22-Mar
17
Liz
Thermodynamics and Redox Chemistry
26-Mar
18
Silke
Redox chemistry/diagenesis in marine sediments*Paper outline due*
29-Mar
19 HW4 due Silke
Diagenesis and carbonate sediments
2-Apr
20
EXAM 2
Section III Paleoceanography climate change and ocean geochemistry
5-Apr
21 HW5
Silke
Paleoceanographic concepts: Stratigraphy and Chronology
9-Apr
22
Liz
CO2 atmosphere ocean exchange and climate
12-Apr
23
Liz
paleo reconstructions of temperature *Paper draft due*
16-Apr
24
Silke
paleo reconstructions of circulation and fluxes
19-Apr
25 HW5 due Silke
Iron and phytoplankton in the ocean
23-Apr
26
both
Paper presentations
26-Apr
27
both
Paper presentations *Paper due*
30-Apr
28
both
Climate Change “debate” what you need to know &
Hot topics in Marine Chemistry/review
9-May 1:10-2:30 PM
EXAM 3