Introduction to Environmental Biogeochemistry

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Aware of how chemical, biological, physical and geological processes are linked in the Earth system.
• Use problem-solving skills to predict how biogeochemical cycles respond to climate change.
• Apply numerical techniques to quantify environmental biogeochemical processes.
• Confident in applying the basic concepts of environmental biogeochemistry to new areas.
• Able to specialise in this subject or apply the general skills within your chosen degree pathway.

This course explores how key materials and elements are cycled through the biosphere and Earth system. Chemical elements are the building blocks for life, yet the supply of these chemicals is fixed and finite. This means that for life to continue, nature must recycle biologically important elements. We explore the physical, biological and geological processes that regulate the occurrence, distribution and cycling of material in the Earth system. We also explore how element distributions have been altered by human activities. And perhaps most importantly, we investigate the links between biogeochemical cycles and climate change, to enable us to make informed choices on how to use Earth's resources sustainably. This module provides an introduction to environmental biogeochemistry for all science undergraduates.

The module is delivered through lectures and practical workshops. After providing an overview of important features of biogeochemical cycles, the module considers the specific examples of the carbon cycle, macronutrient cycles, and chemical pollutants. Within each of these general topics important concepts that provide a mechanistic understanding of the behaviour of elements in the Earth system, such as redox, solubility, kinetics and equilibria, will be introduced.

The workshop sessions provide skills training and allow us to assess student learning and provide direct feedback on progress. You will work through structured worksheets with assistance from demonstrators and staff. We start by revising basic chemical concepts and build up to applying these concepts to real examples in biogeochemistry. Practical sessions cover areas such as the controls on the distributions of nutrients and dissolved oxygen in the oceans and an introduction to simple box models.

Formal Lectures: will provide an overview of important features of biogeochemical cycles and consider specific examples including the carbon cycle, macronutrient cycles, and chemical pollutants in the Earth system.

Practical workshops: will involve the student in using the concepts introduced in lectures. Examples will be worked through with help from demonstrators.

A wide range of support can be provided for those students who have further or specific learning and teaching needs.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.