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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2015/2016

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Geosciences : Earth Science

Undergraduate Course: Environmental Geochemistry of the Earth's Surface (EASC08024)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Geosciences CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThe course focuses on geochemistry of natural waters as imprinted by its interaction with local geology. It takes an integrated view of natural and biological interactions that shape the earth's surface.
Course description Lecture suite: Controls on geochemistry of natural waters

Introduction, course rationale and environmental context (1) BTN

Controls on the composition of natural waters and classification (2) BTN

Forms of natural dissolved substances in natural waters (3) BTN

Colloids/ mineral surface chemistry surface adsorption reactions (4) BTN

Energy demand for geochemical reactions, reaction pathways and rate determining reactions (5) BTN

Sources of energy for natural reactions in the natural environments (6) BTN

Autotrophic Metabolism: Living off sunlight and inorganic substances (7) - GLC

Heterotrophic metabolism: Living off organic compounds (8) GLC

Organic matter cycling in natural environments (9-11) GLC

Carbonate Chemistry of natural systems: acid rain, ocean acidification, marine carbonates (12-13) RSG

Nutrient processing, transport through land-ocean continuum (N, P, Si) , Global Nitrogen Cascade, coastal eutrophication, redfield ratios, (14-15)- RSG

Carbon cycle in the Anthropocene: the use of stable isotopes, the fate of anthropogenic carbon emission, CO2 fertilisation, stability of carbon reservoirs, marine carbon sequestration (16-17)-RSG

Geochemistry of riverine and near-shore sediments: Elemental and isotopic composition (18-19) RSG

Field & Data module: Sediment and mine water geochemistry

Environmental sampling and analysis (20) BTN & RSG
Designing a field campaign
Sampling
Geochemical data analysis and interpretation
ci: Bio-elements and isotopes 3 hrs
cii: Major and Trace elements 3hrs
ciii: geochemical modelling of porewater profiles

Minewater pollution and treatment (21) (BTN)
Minewater generation, chemistry and classification
Treatment options and design

Weekend residential field trip, data synthesis and reporting (BTN/RSG/GLC).


The course focusses on geochemistry of natural water as imprinted by its interaction with local geology. It takes an integrated view of natural and biological (anthropogenic) interactions that shape the earth¿s surface.Significantly, the approach is based on integrating theoretical geochemistry with practical skills such as (i) data processing and statistical analysis, (ii) geochemical modelling, (iii) environmental remediation.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites It is RECOMMENDED that students have passed Earth Dynamics (EASC08001) AND Evolution of the Living Earth (EASC08023)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements Higher Chemistry
Additional Costs £70 for fieldtrip to the Lake District
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2015/16, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  20
Course Start Semester 1
Course Start Date 21/09/2015
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 20, Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 18, Fieldwork Hours 16, Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2, Formative Assessment Hours 2, Summative Assessment Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 136 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 50 %, Coursework 50 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Exam 50%
Field and laboratory 50%: Samples analysed by technical staff (XRF, ICP-OES) and data distributed for processing and modelling.
Feedback The course includes laboratory practical sessions for which you will submit written reports. The first of these will be used for formative feedback to allow you to improve on subsequent reports. You will also get on-going feedback from demonstrators during and after practical sessions.
As this is a new course, we plan to hold 1-2 tutorials during exam revision session. During these sessions, we will review the type of questions likely to come up in the exam and discuss how best to tackle them.
In semester 2, the course team will be available to discuss examination scripts.

Examples of feedback can be found here: http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/geosciences/teaching-organisation/staff/feedback-and-marking
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S1 (December)1:30
Resit Exam Diet (August)2:00
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Consolidate knowledge of chemical concepts in Environmental Geochemistry
  2. Be able to integrate theoretical concepts with their practical applications
  3. Ability to design and carry out a sampling campaign for environmental analysis
  4. Acquire skills in geochemical speciation modelling
  5. Be cognisant of skills in Technical report writing, critical appraisal of analytical data and accounting for uncertainties when drawing conclusions, appreciation of assumptions required for modelling.
Reading List
D. Langmuir: Aqueous Environmental Geochemistry
J.I. Drever: Geochemistry of Natural Waters
J.E. Andrews et al: An Introduction to Environmental Chemistry
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Field design and sampling
Laboratory analysis and statistical data analysis
Geochemical speciation modelling
Additional Class Delivery Information Two lectures per week. One practical per week from wks 1-5
KeywordsEnvironmental geochemistry,Earth's Surface,Aqueous environments,biogeochemistry,minewater chemis
Contacts
Course organiserDr Bryne Ngwenya
Tel: (0131 6)50 8524
Email: Bryne.Ngwenya@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMrs Nicola Muir
Tel: (0131 6)50 4842
Email: Nikki.Muir@ed.ac.uk
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