"A central challenge is to balance the teaching of methods and facts."

MAC 605: Chemical Oceanography

Coordinator/Instructor:

Prof. Dennis A. Hansell

dhansell@rsmas.miami.edu

Office: RSMAS/SLAB 238; 305-361-4078 (5-4078)

MAC 605: The goal of the course is to facilitate an increase in student understanding of the major disciplines within Chemical Oceanography. It is primarily directed at MAC Graduate Students who need to prepare for their qualifying examinations. The course prerequisite is MAC 503 Introduction to Marine and Atmospheric Chemistry, or permission of instructor.

In general, each week (2 meetings) a single topic is covered. The topic is presented by an expert in the discipline. The first meeting within a topic will normally be presented as a lecture. The second meeting may be a discussion of papers assigned by the lecturer, or additional lecture may be given in the second meeting if deemed necessary. Questions specific to the readings that may be assigned by the instructor must be answered by the students prior to the discussion meeting.

Two term papers are required of all students. Topics must be within the field of chemical oceanography, and approved by the instructor. The final versions will be accepted only after a draft of the paper have been reviewed and revised. The intent here is to expose the students to specifics topics in greater depth, to encourage use and understanding of the literature, and to improve writing skills. The second of the term papers will be presented orally to the class during the last normal week of classes.

Credits: 3

Office Hours: Stop in, or call/e-mail for an appointment.

Class meets in Room SLAB 236, Monday and Wednesday, 3:00 to 4:30

Textbooks: None required. Readings of primary scientific literature will be assigned.

Grading: Letter grades will be decided based on a) completeness and insightfulness of answers to questions specific to the weekly readings; b) substantive participation and contributions in the discussions on those papers; and, c) the term papers.

Week 1 (Jan 13-17)

1. Biogeochemistry of the Major Nutritive Elements                D. Hansell

2. Topic Discussion                                                                    D. Hansell

Week 2 (Jan 20-24)

3. MLK Holiday, Monday Jan 20                                            

4. Carbon Chemistry                                                                  F. Millero

      (approval of topic for 1st term paper required by this date; contact D. Hansell)

Week 3 (Jan 27- Jan 31)

5. Carbon Budgets                                                                      R. Wanninkhof

6. Topic Discussion                                                                    R. Wanninkhof

Week 4(Feb 3-7)

7. Anthropogenic Tracers of Ocean Circulation                         R. Fine

8. Topic Discussion                                                                    R. Fine

Week 5(Feb 10-14) (ASLO)

9. Radiotracers                                                                            D. Kadko

10. Chemical Tracers of Ground Water                                        J. Happell

(First draft of term paper due to D. Hansell)

Week 6 (Feb 17-21)

11. Marine Dissolved Organic Matter                                          D. Hansell

12. Topic Discussion                                                                    D. Hansell

Week 7 (Feb 24-Feb 28)

13. Sediment Chemistry                                                               D. Kadko       

14. Sediment Chemistry                                                               D. Kadko       

      (Final version of first term paper due)

Week 8 (Mar 3-7)

15. Trace Metals                                                                          F. Millero       

16. Topic Discussion                                                                    F. Millero

(approval of topic for second term paper required; contact D. Hansell)     

Week 9

   SPRING RECESS (Mar 10-14)

Week 10 (Mar 17-21)

17. Aquatic Pollution                                                                    P. Milne

18. Topic Discussion P. Milne

Week 11 (Mar 24-28)

19. Air-Sea Interactions                                                                R. Wanninkhof

20. Topic Discussion                                                                    R. Wanninkhof           

Week 12 (March 31-April 4)

21. Anoxic Environments                                                             D. Kadko       

(First draft of term paper due)

22. Geothermal Vent Chemistry                                                   D. Kadko

Week 13 (April 7-11)

23. Aquatic Photochemistry                                                         R. Zika           

24. Topic Discussion                                                                    R. Zika           

Week 14 (April 14-18)

25. Environmental Microbiology/Degradation                             K. Goodwin

26. Topic Discussion K. Goodwin

Week 15 (April 21)

27. Oral Presentations of Second Term Paper/ paper due            D. Hansell