Instructor: Edwin Schauble
3642 Geology
310-206-9292
Lecture: Geology 3645, Tuesday/Thursday 11:00a-12:15p(?)
Office Hours: Daily, 2-3pm or by appointment.
Prerequisites: Calculus, chemistry
Geology (ESS 1) and/or oceanography (ESS 15), or equivalent helpful, but not required.
Textbook: Schlesinger WH (1997, 2nd ed.), Biogeochemistry, an analysis of global change. Academic Press. Required
Morel FMM and Hering J (1993) Principles and applications of aquatic geochemistry. Wiley Interscience. Optional
Class
Summary:
This course is about the chemistry of the EarthÕs surface environment, and the interplay between biology, human activity, and geology. The first part of the class will introduce the origin and composition of the Earth, including the atmosphere, crust, and hydrosphere. Then we will examine how these reservoirs are affected by biological cycles, and feedbacks to biological evolution and diversity. Finally we will focus more closely on local and global-scale movements of biologically important elements like carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. This course is intended to be accessible for upperclassmen and graduate students in the Physical Sciences and Biology. Coursework will consist of lectures, homework, midterm, final exam, and a term paper or project.
Grading:
| Homework | 35% |
| Midterm Exam | 20% |
| Final Exam | 25% |
| Final Project/Paper | 20% |
Syllabus
(Rough - subject to revision):
Week 1: Introduction to biogeochemistry. The origin of Earth, the solar system, and life.
Reading: Schlesinger Ch. 1-2.
Week 2: Major reservoirs: the atmosphere, oceans and rocky Earth.
Reading: Schlesinger Ch. 3-4.
Week 3: Photosynthesis and the Earth's carbon cycle.
Reading: Schlesinger Ch. 5.
Week 4: Biosphere/Soil/Atmosphere interactions.
Reading: Schlesinger Ch. 6.
Week 5: Biogeochemistry of freshwater ecosystems.
Reading: Schlesinger Ch. 7-8.
Week 6: The oceans in light and darkness.
Reading: Schlesinger Ch. 9.
Midterm.
Week 7: The history and future of Earth's hydrological cycle.
Reading: Schlesinger Ch. 10.
Week 8: Greenhouse Earth.
Reading: Schlesinger Ch. 11.
Week 9: Biogeochemical cycles of nitrogen and phosphorus.
Reading: Schlesinger Ch. 12.
Week 10: Projects/student presentations and special topics.
Term papers/project due.