COURSE UNIT TITLE

: MARINE BIOGEOCHEMISTRY

Description of Individual Course Units

Course Unit Code Course Unit Title Type Of Course D U L ECTS
MCP 6006 MARINE BIOGEOCHEMISTRY ELECTIVE 2 0 0 9

Offered By

Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences

Level of Course Unit

Second Cycle Programmes (Master's Degree)

Course Coordinator

PROFESSOR FILIZ KÜÇÜKSEZGIN

Offered to

MARINE CHEMISTRY
MARINE CHEMISTRY

Course Objective

This course focuses on the ocean's role in global biogeochemical cycling of selected elements. The impact of humans on the transport of elements within these cycles is given special emphasis. It includes a description of the chemical composition of seawater from the dual perspectives of elemental speciation and the impact of solutes on the physical behaviour of water. The role of the sediments in determining the chemical composition of seawater is discussed from both equilibrium and kinetic perspectives. The origin of petroleum and mechanisms of radioactive decay are given in this course.

Learning Outcomes of the Course Unit

1   will be able to understand biogeochemical controls in the ocean and be able to quantify their impact on marine systems
2   will be able to make predictions regarding the fate of material in the marine environment
3   will be able to outline the major fluxes of C, N and P in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems
4   will be able to describe the major biological and biogeochemical processes that drive nutrient cycles

Mode of Delivery

Face -to- Face

Prerequisites and Co-requisites

None

Recomended Optional Programme Components

None

Course Contents

Week Subject Description
1 Molecular structure of water, the phases of water, hydrogen bonding and effect of hydrogen bonding on the physical behaviour of water, the effect of salt on the physical properties of water
2 The conservative nature of the major ions, global heat and water balance, temporal and spatial variations in salinity, speciation in seawater, major ions, trace metals, organic matter, acid and bases
3 Dissolved gases in seawater
4 Organic matter: Production and destruction
5 Vertical and horizontal segregation of the biolimiting elements
6 Trace metals in seawater and diagenesis
7 Mid-term exam
8 Classification of sediments, Evaporites
9 Iron-manganese nodules
10 Other hydrogenous minerals
11 Global pattern of sediment distribution
12 Particulate and dissolved organic matter
13 The origin of petroleum in the marine environment
14 Assignment

Recomended or Required Reading

-Libes, S.M., An introduction to Marine Biogeochemistry, John Wiley&Sons. Inc., Singapore, 1992, 733p.

-Chester, R., Marine Geochemistry. Chapman & Hall, London, 1990, 698p.

-Course notes will be circulated during the class.

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

The course is taught in a lecture, class presentation and discussion format. All class members are expected to attend both the lecture and take part in the discussion sessions. Besides the taught lecture, group presentations are to be prepared by the groups assigned for that week and presented to open a discussion session.

Assessment Methods

SORTING NUMBER SHORT CODE LONG CODE FORMULA
1 MTE MIDTERM EXAM
2 ASG ASSIGNMENT
3 FIN FINAL EXAM
4 FCG FINAL COURSE GRADE MTE * 0.25 + ASG *0.25 +FIN *0.50
5 RST RESIT
6 FCGR FINAL COURSE GRADE (RESIT) MTE * 0.25 + ASG *0.25 +RST *0.50


Further Notes About Assessment Methods

None

Assessment Criteria

To be announced.

Language of Instruction

Turkish

Course Policies and Rules

Reading the related parts of the course material each week, attending the course and participating in class discussions are the requirements of the course. Any unethical behavior that occurs either in presentations or in exams will be dealt with as outlined in school policy. Participation is obligatory 75% of lectures.

Contact Details for the Lecturer(s)

Prof. Dr. Filiz KUCUKSEZGIN
Institute of Marine Sciences and Technology
35340 Inciraltı-Izmir
Tel: 232-278 55 65 /120
e mail: filiz.ksezgin@deu.edu.tr

Office Hours

Monday-Wednesday
13:00-15:00

Work Placement(s)

None

Workload Calculation

Activities Number Time (hours) Total Work Load (hours)
Lectures 13 2 26
Preparation for final exam 1 25 25
Preparing assignments 1 42 42
Preparation for midterm exam 1 25 25
Field study 1 48 48
Preparations before/after weekly lectures 13 4 52
Final 1 3 3
Midterm 1 3 3
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours) 224

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

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LO.133434243344
LO.244434343244
LO.343434243344
LO.443434243344