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Semester 2

Changing Marine Biogeochemical Cycles (EASC10123)

Subject

Earth Science

College

SCE

Credits

20

Normal Year Taken

4

Delivery Session Year

2023/2024

Pre-requisites

Course Summary

The ocean is vulnerable and its ecosystem function and services are under severe threat related to climate change. Ocean warming, acidification and deoxygenation have global impact that can cascade through the food chain severely stressing ocean living resources which are already subject to multiple stressors of over exploitation, environmental degradation and habitat loss. Additionally, ocean plays a vital role in sequestering anthropogenic carbon but this uptake is expected to be impaired in uncertain ways due to these stresses in the medium and long term. The grand challenge facing scientists, policy-makers and the society at large is predicting, planning and mitigating for these changes. Meeting this grand challenge requires a clear understanding of the underpinning biogeochemical processes and cycles that mediate between physical changes and the ecosystems. The course will focus on these large scale marine biogeochemical cycles, discussing in depth the current evidence for change. The processes driving changes in the ocean ecosystem as a whole and potential mitigation practices will be discussed. The course aims to build on basic knowledge of marine sciences interrogating and placing these concepts in the context of current issues in marine science.

Course Description

The class will meet for a three-hour session, 13:00-16:00 Fridays. Student presentations will be in Weeks 6 & 7. No classes during Flexible Learning Week. WEEK 1: Review of large scale circulation and biological processes in the ocean.WEEk 2: Changing carbon cycle, oceanic carbon sink, ocean acidification. WEEk 3: Changing nutrient cycles, ocean deoxygenation. WEEK 4: Concepts of Multistressors WEEK 5: TBAWEEK 6 & 7: Student PresentationsFurther Course Informationhttps://path.is.ed.ac.uk/courses/EASC10123_SV1_SEM2 http://www.drps.ed.ac.uk/20-21/dpt/cxeasc10050.htm

Assessment Information

Written Exam 0%, Coursework 100%, Practical Exam 0%

Additional Assessment Information

Assessment Details Final Essay (50%) Group Report (25%) Student Presentations (25%)Link to the Extended Common Marking Scheme:http://www.ed.ac.uk/student-administration/exams/regulations/common-marking-schemeAssessment DeadlinesFinal Essay (50%) to be submitted by 12 noon, Wednesday, Week 11Group Report (25%) to be submitted TBC (Date set in consultation with students)Student Presentations 25%: to take place in Week 6 & 7, exact dates TBC,Assessment and Feedback information All details related to extensions procedures and late penalties can be found in the School of Geosciences Handbook, which can be found on the Learn UG Student Information Hub.

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