Biogeochemical Cycles
The course deals with the Earth's climate system seen from a historical perspective and in a changing time linked to human influence. The course covers the biogeochemical cycles of the state of the elements in the atmosphere, the biosphere, the hydrosphere, the pedosphere and the lithosphere. The course therefore has a strong interdisciplinary approach.
The course will take an interdisciplinary approach to more specifically address the following topics:
Earth's history: the evolution of the oceans, atmosphere and life. The structure and composition of the lithosphere, pedosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biota.
Models that describe flow and circulation, residence times, etc. The main features of the global cycles of water, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur and trace elements. Cycles of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in the Baltic Sea. A key theme is the human impact on cycles and the implications of this.
The course is designed primarily for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in meteorology, geology, biology, chemistry, ecology and oceanography. The course will be taught in English.
Those who follow the whole course and complete a project with a seminar and report and pass the exam receive 15 credits (MO7014). There is a possibility to opt out of the project. Those who do are still required to pass the final exam to receive 7.5 credits (MO7013).
The courses is given in collaboration with the Bolin Center for Climate Research and the Climate Research School of Stockholm University (http://www.bolin.su.se). The lectures will be given by scientists from several institutions at SU.
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Course structure
Lectures (MO7013 and MO7014)
A1 Introduction
A2 Evolution of the atmosphere/ocean
A3 The Physics of the Ocean
A4 Marine Ecosystems
A5 Sediments and lithosphere
A6 Composition and structure of the Atmosphere
A7 Anthropogenic Climate change
A8 Terrestrial Ecosystems
A9 Biogeochemical signatures in paleorecords
B1 Carbon Cycle
B2 Cycle models
B3 Water Cycle
B4 Nitrogen cycle
B6 Nitrogen and phosphorus in the Baltic Sea
B6 Sulfur cycleE Exam
Topic (MO7014)
C1-5 Biogeochemica lfeedbacks in the climate systemPR Project presentations and written report
Teaching format
Lectures and Critical précis (MO7013/MO7014) and seminars and project reports (MO7014).
Course material
Grading criteria, course literature and other material and correspondence related to the course will be available on the course Athena-site at https://athena.itslearning.com once you have registered for the course.
Assessment
In order to achieve a passing grade (E or higher), a passing grade (E or higher) on each of the components (written exam, critical précis, attendance in lectures, and a written and orally presented project) is required. Attending the lectures (C1- C4) is mandatory for MO7014.
The final grade for MO7014 will be a weighted average of the grades of the components, with weights as follows:
Written exam 30%, Critical précis 16% , Attendance in lectures (A1-A9; B1-B7) 4% , Projects 50%: written report (25%) and oral presentations (25%)The final grade for MO7013 will be a weighted average of the grades of the components, with weights as follows:
Written exam 60%
Critical précis 32%
Attendance in lectures (A1-A9; B1 – B7) 8%Examiner
Here is a link to a list of examiners for 2020:
https://www.misu.su.se/svenska/utbildning/program-och-kurser#Examinatorer
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Schedule
This is a preliminary schedule and is subject to continuous change. For this reason, we do not recommend print-outs. At the start of the course, your institution will advise where you can find your schedule during the course.You can search for schedules from previous years in TimeEdit, by entering the course code.
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Course literature
Note that the course literature can be changed up to two months before the start of the course.Text book could be down loaded as an e-book free of charge from the SU library:
"Earth System Science: From Biogeochemical Cycles to Global Change", editors: Michael C. Jacobson, Robert J. Charlson, Henning Rodhe & Gordon H. Orians, Academic Press, 2000.
Additional material may be distributed at or before the lectures depending upon the lecturer.
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More information
Upcoming courses
The course is held every spring semester.
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Contact
Student counselor
email: studievagledare@misu.su.se
Phone: +46 8 16 24 18
