Undergraduate Course: Changing Marine Biogeochemical Cycles (EASC10123)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | The ocean is vulnerable and its ecosystem function and services are under severe threat related to climate change. Ocean warming, acidification and deoxygenation have global impact that can cascade through the food chain severely stressing ocean living resources which are already subject to multiple stressors of over exploitation, environmental degradation and habitat loss. Additionally, ocean plays a vital role in sequestering anthropogenic carbon but this uptake is expected to be impaired in uncertain ways due to these stresses in the medium and long term. The grand challenge facing scientists, policy-makers and the society at large is predicting, planning and mitigating for these changes. Meeting this grand challenge requires a clear understanding of the underpinning biogeochemical processes and cycles that mediate between physical changes and the ecosystems. The course will focus on these large scale marine biogeochemical cycles, discussing in depth the current evidence for change. The processes driving changes in the ocean ecosystem as a whole and potential mitigation practices will be discussed. The course aims to build on basic knowledge of marine sciences interrogating and placing these concepts in the context of current issues in marine science. |
| Course description |
The class will meet for a four-hour session, 9:00-13:00 Wednesdays for the first 3 weeks during Semester 2 Block 3. Student presentations will be in Week 5 and Flexible Learning Week. Exact dates for AY2020/2021 TBC
WEEK 1: Review of large scale circulation and biological processes in the ocean.
WEEk 2: Changing carbon cycle, oceanic carbon sink, ocean acidification
WEEk 3: Changing Nutrient cycles, ocean deoxygenation and concepts of multiple stressor
WEEK 4: No meeting
WEEK 5: Student presentations
Further Course Information
https://path.is.ed.ac.uk/courses/EASC10123_SV1_SEM2
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
It is RECOMMENDED that students have passed
Oceanography (EASC08004)
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | Recommended student have passed Oceanography (EASC08004) or equivalent |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2021/22, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 40 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 8,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 27,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 3,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
158 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Coursework 100%
- Final Essay (50%)
- Group Report (25%)
- Student Presentations (25%)
http://www.ed.ac.uk/student-administration/exams/regulations/common-marking-scheme
Assessment Deadlines
- Final Essay (50%): to be submitted by 12 noon, Wednesday, Week 11
- Group Report (25%): to be submitted TBC (Date set in consultation with students, likely to be in weeks 7-8)
- Student Presentations 25%: to take place in Week 5 and Flexible Learning Week, exact dates TBC
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| Feedback |
Feedback provided on student seminar presentations during the course and in addition students are encouraged to discuss essay topics they choose with lecturers who are experts in that area
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Attain an in-depth knowledge of the grand challenges to the marine environment and their underpinning large scale marine biogeochemical cycles and processes relevant to global change
- Develop and strengthen ability for self-learning, critical thinking, interrogating scientific knowledge and analysing evidences
- Create awareness of limitations in current knowledge in this subject area
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Reading List
Provided through Learn
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
- Researching literature, oral presentation skills and essay writing
- Team work and scientific debates |
| Keywords | Marine Ecosystems,Biogeochemical cycles,Multiple stressors,global change |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Raja Ganeshram
Tel: (0131 6)50 7364
Email: R.Ganeshram@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Katerina Sykioti
Tel: (0131 6)50 5430
Email: Katerina.Sykioti@ed.ac.uk |
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