Biogeochemical Systems (OCN 401)      Course Outline  --  Fall 2012

Day

Date

Topic

Chapter

 

Term Paper

 

Homework

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tu

21-Aug

Introduction.  Discussion of term paper and homework.  Library research methods

-

 

 

 

First mini-essay assigned

Th

23-Aug

Tree of life.  Metabolic pathways.  Calculation of energy yields.

-

 

 

 

 

Tu

28-Aug

Atmospheric deposition, atmospheric models

3

 

 

 

First mini-essay due

Th

30-Aug

Rock weathering and soil development

4

 

 

 

First mini-essay returned;         second mini-essay assigned

Tu

4-Sep

Photosynthesis and net primary production

5

 

 

 

 

Th

6-Sep

Net primary production and global change

5

 

 

 

Second mini-essay due

Tu

11-Sep

Nutrient cycling in land plants

6

 

 

 

Second mini-essay returned;      third-essay assigned

Th

13-Sep

Nutrient cycling in land vegetation and soils

6

 

 

 

 

Tu

18-Sep

Cycling and biogeochemical transformations of N, P, S

6

 

 

 

Third mini-essay due

Th

20-Sep

Ecosystem mass balances and models of terrestrial nutrient cycling

6

 

 

 

 

Tu

25-Sep

Biogeochemical redox reactions in aquatic systems

7

 

 

 

 

Th

27-Sep

Lakes, primary production, budgets and cycling

7

 

 

 

 

Tu

2-Oct

Exam review and Term Paper discussion (discuss Term Paper Topic mini-presentation & Outline Rubric)

 

 

*** Topic due***

 

 

Th

4-Oct

MID-TERM EXAM

 

 

 

 

 

Tu

9-Oct

Student presentations of Term Paper topics

 

 

***Two-min presentation of topic***

 

 

Th

11-Oct

River transport and chemistry

8

 

*** Outline due ***

 

 

Tu

16-Oct

Estuarine and coastal ocean environments

8

 

*** Outline returned ***  

 

 

Th

18-Oct

Oceanic composition, circulation

9

 

 

 

 

Tu

23-Oct

Oceanic production, carbon regeneration, nutrient cycling in the ocean - Part I

9

 

 

 

 

Th

25-Oct

Oceanic production, carbon regeneration, nutrient cycling in the ocean - Part II

9

 

 

 

 

Tu

30-Oct

Oceanic sediments and sedimentary records

9

 

 

 

 

Th

1-Nov

Phytoplankton-bacteria interactions

9

 

*** First Draft due ***

 

 

Tu

6-Nov

HOLIDAY: Election Day (no class --- vote!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Global Cycles

 

 

 

 

 

Th

8-Nov

Global water cycle

10

 

 

 

 

Tu

13-Nov

Contemporary C cycle - I

11

 

*** Peer Review due ***

 

 

Th

15-Nov

Contemporary C cycle - II

11

 

*** First Draft returned***

 

 

Tu

20-Nov

Contemporary N, P and S cycles; inter-cycle linkages - I

12, 13

 

 

 

 

Th

22-Nov

HOLIDAY: Thanksgiving (no class)

 

 

 

 

 

Tu

27-Nov

Contemporary N, P and S cycles; inter-cycle linkages - II

12, 13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Student Presentations

 

 

 

 

 

Th

29-Nov

Student Presentations - I

 

 

*** Final Draft Due ***

 

 

Tu

4-Dec

Student Presentations - II

 

 

 

 

 

Th

6-Dec

Student Presentations - III

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Th

13-Dec

FINAL EXAM:   12:00 - 2:00

 

 

 

 

 

COURSE INFO

Class:  Tuesday & Thursday, 12:00 - 1:15 pm, MSB 307

Lead instructor:   Frank Sansone

Contact info:  sansone@soest.hawaii.edu, 956-8370, MSB 533

Office Hours:  1:30-2:30 after lectures

Teaching Assistant:  Lydia Baker,  bakerlyd@hawaii.edu

Office Hours:  Mon & Wed, 12-1:30, C-MORE Hale 207

Required Text:  Biogeochemistry: An Analysis of Global Change, (2nd Edition) by W. H. Schelsinger

Final grade  =  Mid-term exam (25%);  final exam (25%);  term paper & oral presentation, incl. outline and first draft (30%); homework & class participation (20%)

OCN 401 - STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon successful completion of the course, students are expected to be able to:

1)  Explain the underlying principles of biogeochemical cycling in aquatic and terrestrial systems.

2)  Identify the major global pathways of bioactive elements, and the ways human activities affect these pathways.

3)  Use written and oral communication to clearly explain biogeochemical phenomena and related contemporary research.

4)  Effectively use electronic resources (e.g., on-line journals, electronic searches for science references) to develop a bibliography for a research topic.

Last updated 12/11/2012