OVERVIEW

Chemical oceanography is a 6 credits course held in the second semester.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to provide the current status of knowledge on the chemical composition of the seawater and of the processes that occur in the marine environment changing the distribution of the main chemical species.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to provide the most recent knowledge (also from an analytical point of view) on the studies concerning the chemical characterization of marine waters. The student will acquire the ability to evaluate the measurements of the chemical composition of marine waters, in relation to spatial and temporal distribution and biological activities too.

PREREQUISITES

Knowledge  of  both  inorganic and organic chemistry main topics.

TEACHING METHODS

Formal Lectures: Each lecture covers the main concepts and topics of the course content  by the use of PowerPoint presentations. Appropriate references to parts of course textbooks and suggested references are provided at each lecture.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Scope and history of chemical oceanography

1. Physical properties of water. Salt in solution; sea water as an electrolyte

2. Composition of seawater

2.1 Major constituents of seawater. Definition and methods of measure of salinity. Chemical tracers elements  (CFCs, oxygen isotopes) to quantify the mixing processes in the ocean.

2.2 The role and variability of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and silicium) in seawater.

2.3  Organic matter in the sea: primary production and other sources of organic matter. Humic acids

2.4 Simple gases. Solubility in water and atmospheric exchange. Dissolved oxygen. Ocean's CO2 system

2.5 Distribution and cycling of trace metals. 2.6  Effects of trace metals towards marine biota: speciation, availability, uptake, toxic effects

3 Chemical equilibria in marine environments: equilibria of carbonate species; redox chemistry; metal complexing reactions.

4. Speciation of metal in sea water by model approach and by analytical methods. 5 Exchange at the boundaries

5.1 Air -sea exchange

5.2 Sediment -water exchange

6 Solid phases

6.1 Suspended particulate matter and sediments.

6.2 Trace elements-solid phase reactions: adsorption, ionic exchange, precipitation and co-precipitation reactions.

6.3 Solid speciation and selective extraction procedures.

7. Standard operational procedures of sampling and analysis. Data pre treatment

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Frank Millero Chemical Oceanography 4 °edition, 2013 CRC Press

Susan M. LibesIntroduction to marine biogeochemistry,  2009, Academic Press

Power Point presentations  and bibliographic references available at chemical oceanography  course aulaweb page.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

PAOLA FRANCESCA RIVARO (President)

FRANCISCO ARDINI

MARCO GROTTI

MARIA CARMELA IANNI

LESSONS

LESSONS START

From 24th February 2020

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral examination.Details on how to prepare for the exam and the degree of detail required for each topic will be provided at the beginning of the course and reiterated during lectures.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The exam consists in an oral test. The oral examination is always conducted by two teachers and lasts for at least 30 minutes. In this way, the Commission is able to verify the achievement of the objectives of teaching by asking questions about the program of the course.The ability to expose the arguments clearly and with correct terminology will also be evaluated. When goals are not achieved, the student is invited to deepen his knowledge and to ask further explanation to the teacher. 

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Class attendance is recommended.