ENVS1121 Biogeochemistry (5 op)
Avainteksti
Kuvaus
The course follows the chapters of a textbook (Schlesinger William H. & Bernhardt Emily S. 2020. Biogeochemistry – An Analysis on Global Change, 4th edition. 749 pages. Elsevier).
Part I:
1. Introduction & Origins
2. The Atmosphere
3. The Lithosphere
4. The Carbon Cycle of Terrestrial Ecosystems
5. Biogeochemical Cycling on Land
6. Wetland Ecosystems
7. Inland Waters
8. The Oceans
Part II - global cycles:
9. The Global Water Cycle
10. The Global Carbon and Oxygen Cycles
11. The Global Cycles of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium
12. The Global Cycles of Sulfur and Mercury
Osaamistavoitteet
Learning objectives of biogeochemistry
Interdisciplinary nature of biogeochemistry. Biogeochemistry utilizes collectively several disciplines (e.g. biology, geology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, oceanography, and atmospheric science).
Basic concepts of different applied disciplines involved in biogeochemistry (atmospheric science, geology, terrestrial biosphere, oceanography and limnology).
The global cycles (pools and fluxes) of some elements (H2O, C, O, N, P, K, Hg and S) and the coupling between individual cycles.
Major physical, chemical and biological processes driving the biogeochemical cycles. Physical processes include e.g. evaporation, melting, thawing, precipitation, plate tectonics, volcanism, erosion, mixing, diffusion, convection, advection, aggregation, runoff, landslides, and thermohaline circulation of the ocean. Chemical processes include e.g. weathering, hydrolysis, oxidation, photochemistry, chemical equilibria, pH, redox potential, thermodynamics, stoichiometry, dissolution and fire. Biological processes include e.g. photosynthesis, respiration, transpiration, metabolism, microbiology, enzymatic catalysis, decomposition, dissimilatory and assimilatory metabolism, accumulation and decomposition of biomass.
Human interference in biogeochemistry. This includes e.g. burning of fossil fuels, fertilization, industrial emissions, land use, agriculture, eutrophication, mining, climate change, pollution, water use, damming rivers, and creating reservoirs.
The learning objectives (generic skills)
Chairing a session
Communication in English
Giving a presentation in English
Problem solving skills
Searching of information from reliable sources
Working in a small group
Collective intelligence.
Esitietojen kuvaus
Biogeochemistry combines information from many disciplines. There are no strict requirements for this course, but many courses can help you to understand the content of course better. It helps if you have some background from microbiology (BENP1006, BENA4040, CMBS2405), ecology (BENA2020, ECOS1084), field work (BENA4034), laboratory work (BENA4035, ENVS2402), aquatic sciences (BENP1002, BENA4047, WETS1045, WETS1046, ENVS1137), climate change (BENA4036), chemistry (BENA4038, KEMP1110, KEMP1140), forest sciences (BENA4028), and stable isotopes (WETS1049).
Suositellut esitiedot
- Esitietoryhmä 1
- BENP1006 Mikrobiologia (3 op)
- BENA4040 Ympäristömikrobiologia ja -teknologia (3 op)
- CMBS2405 Mikrobiologian syventävä kurssi (2–6 op)
- BENA2020 Ekologia (3 op)
- ECOS1084 Ekosysteemiekologia (5 op)
- BENA4034 Ympäristö- ja vesistötieteiden tutkimusmenetelmät 1 (4 op)
- BENA4035 Ympäristö- ja vesistötieteiden tutkimusmenetelmät 2 (4 op)
- ENVS2402 Ympäristötieteen syventävät laboratoriomenetelmät (5 op)
- BENP1002 Vesi ja vesistöt (5 op)
- BENA4047 Vesiekosysteemien rakenne ja toiminta (4 op)
- WETS1045 Pintavesien tilan arviointi ja seuranta (2–4 op)
- WETS1046 Akvaattiset ekosysteemit (4 op)
- ENVS1137 Light in aquatic ecosystems - web course (2 op)
- BENA4036 Ilmastonmuutos (3–5 op)
- BENA4038 Ympäristökemia ja ekotoksikologia (3 op)
- KEMP1110 Molekyylien maailma (5 op)Ei julkaistu tälle opetussuunnitelmakaudelle
- KEMP1140 Orgaanisen kemian perusteet (6 op)
- BENA4028 Metsien luonnonvarat ja monikäyttö (3 op)
- WETS1049 Vakaat isotoopit ekologisessa tutkimuksessa (2–5 op)
Oppimateriaalit
Schlesinger William H. & Bernhardt Emily S. 2020. Biogeochemistry – An Analysis on Global Change, 4th edition. 749 pages. Elsevier.
The textbook is available as an electronic copy. Moodle platform may provide additional reference material related to the chapters of textbook. The students also create teaching material themselves when they write questions and answer to those.
Kirjallisuus
- Schlesinger William H. & Bernhardt Emily S. 2020. Biogeochemistry – An Analysis on Global Change, 4th edition. 749 pages. Elsevier.
Suoritustavat
Tapa 1
Biogeochemistry (5 op)
o The course bases on flipped learning. Each week, students read a chapter from the textbook and try to solve at least one problem given in the end on each chapter. During their self-study, students need also to recognize unclear parts and formulate a question or questions about those. During the weekly meetings, each student will chair a meeting. A chair will review the topic of chapter e.g., by giving a short lecture (15-20 min). Students try to answers to the questions of their peers. This is done first in small groups of two-three students. Then later, the asker of question will receive an answer from a group and all participants are welcome to join in discussion. After the meeting, student need to complete a quiz (in Moodle) concerning the topic of a chapter. A learning diary compensates an absence from a meeting.
· The textbook is available as an electronic copy. The students will receive the correct answers with further clarification after completing the quizzes. After completing an attempt to solve a problem, the students will receive the solutions to the problems by a teacher. Moodle platform provides additionally quizzes related to each chapter if needed. The students also create teaching material themselves when they write questions and answer to those.
· Literature:
o Schlesinger William H. & Bernhardt Emily S. 2013. Biogeochemistry – An Analysis on Global Change, 3rd edition. 672 pages. Elsevier
- Schlesinger William H. & Bernhardt Emily S. 2013. Biogeochemistry – An Analysis on Global Change, 3rd edition. 672 pages. Elsevier