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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2023/2024

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Geosciences : Earth Science

Undergraduate Course: Changing Marine Biogeochemical Cycles (EASC10123)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Geosciences CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThe 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 three-hour session, 13:00-16:00 Fridays. Student presentations will be in Weeks 6 & 7. No classes during Flexible Learning Week.

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.
WEEK 4: Concepts of Multistressors
WEEK 5: TBA
WEEK 6 & 7: Student Presentations

Further Course Information
https://path.is.ed.ac.uk/courses/EASC10123_SV1_SEM2
http://www.drps.ed.ac.uk/20-21/dpt/cxeasc10050.htm
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites It is RECOMMENDED that students have passed Oceanography (EASC08004)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements Recommended student have passed Oceanography (EASC08004) or equivalent
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2023/24, Available to all students (SV1) 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 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
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
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. 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
  2. Develop and strengthen ability for self-learning, critical thinking, interrogating scientific knowledge and analysing evidences
  3. Create awareness of limitations in current knowledge in this subject area
Reading List
Provided through Learn


Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills - Researching literature, oral presentation skills and essay writing
- Team work and scientific debates

KeywordsMarine Ecosystems,Biogeochemical cycles,Multiple stressors,global change
Contacts
Course organiserDr Raja Ganeshram
Tel: (0131 6)50 7364
Email: R.Ganeshram@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMr Johan De Klerk
Tel: (0131 6)50 7010
Email: johan.deklerk@ed.ac.uk
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