OVERVIEW

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

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The teaching aims to provide an up-to-date knowledge of the chemical composition of seawater and the processes occurring in the marine ecosystem that modify the distribution of the main chemical species (nutrients, trace elements) and dissolved gases with particular reference to O2 and CO2. The use of chemical tracers (CFC, 3H, He) for the study of ocean ventilation and the speciation of trace metals in different matrices (water, sediments and organisms) will also be covered in the course. 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.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Knowledge of the chemical composition of the  seawater and of the processes that occur in the  marine environment changing the distribution of the main chemical species. The student will acquire the ability to evaluate the measurements of the chemical composition of marine waters using the correct terms, in relation to spatial and temporal distribution and biological activities.

PREREQUISITES

Knowledge  of  inorganic, organic and analytical chemistry main topics.

TEACHING METHODS

The course amounts to 6 CFU and  consists of lectures divided into 2-hour lessons based on the academic calendar. 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

1. Historical background on the evolution of chemical oceanography.

2. Composition of seawater. 

2.1 Properties of water and seawater as an electrolyte solution.

2.2 Major elements, Salinity, definition and measurement ;Use of salinity as a conservative tracer of ocean circulation; Chemical tracers (CFC, 3H, He,  18O).

2.3 Nutrients.  Nitrogen, phosphorus, silicon cycle.  Use of nutrients as chemical tracers. Trace elements as micronutrients.

2.4 Classification and distribution of organic matter. Primary production and chlorophyll photosynthesis.

2.5 Solubility of gases in seawater; gas flux at atmosphere-ocean interface; Inert gases; O2 and CO2.

2.6 Classification, residence times and biogeochemical cycles of minor and trace elements.

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

4. Speciation of metal in sea water by model approach and by analytical methods.

5  Boundaries (surface microlayer and water column-sediment interface)

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  The role of the biological component in marine biogeochemical cycles 

8. 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  teaching aulaweb page.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

According to the timetable reported here 

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral examination. There will be 2 exam sessions available for the winter session (mid-January-February) and 5 exam sessions available for the summer session (June, July and September). 

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. 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.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Class attendance is recommended.

Compensatory and dispensatory measures Disability/Invalidity/Specific Learning Disorder

Dispensatory measures and compensatory tools are intended to enable students to achieve the same learning objectives as their fellow students, not to facilitate the examination. The use of compensatory tools and the application of dispensatory measures must be authorised in advance by the teacher in agreement with the Referee.

To take advantage of the adaptations during the examination, fill in the Adaptation request form; the request will be automatically sent by the system to the teacher in charge of the teaching, to the Contact Person of your School/Area/Department and in copy to the Sector; you will also receive a copy of the request sent by e-mail.

The adjustments available to students are as follows:

• Additional time (+30% DSA)
• Additional time (+50% disability/invalidity)
• Additional time during oral exams to organise the answer
• Calculator (programmable and graphing calculators are not allowed)
• Conceptual Maps
• Tables and/or Forms
• Take the exam in written form
• Take the exam in oral form
• Tutor reader (for written tests only)
• Tutor-writer (for written tests only)

Your request for adaptations must be submitted at least 7 working days before the scheduled exam date.

All information for students with disabilities and DSA is available on the webpage: Services for students with disabilities or DSA | UniGe | University of Genoa

Reference for inclusion: Sergio Di Domizio - sergio.didomizio@unige.it