Overview
This class provides students with an understanding of the distribution of organic carbon (OC) in marine sediments from a global and molecular-level perspective. It surveys the mineralization and preservation of OC in the water column and within anoxic and oxic marine sediments. Topics include: OC composition, reactivity and budgets within, and fluxes through, major reservoirs; microbial recycling pathways for OC; models for OC degradation and preservation; role of anoxia in OC burial; relationships between dissolved and particulate (sinking and suspended) OC; methods for characterization of sedimentary organic matter; application of biological markers as tools in oceanography. Both structural and isotopic aspects are covered.
Prerequisites
Permission of instructor.
Grading
Grading criteria.
ACTIVITIES |
PERCENTAGES |
Proposal/Presentations |
50% |
Final Exam |
50% |
Calendar
Lecturers: TIE=Tim Eglinton; DJR=Dan Repeta; BVM=Ben Van Mooy; CMR=Chris Reddy.
Course calendar.
SES # |
TOPICS |
LECTURERS |
KEY DATES |
1 |
Organic Geochemistry Methods I |
TIE |
Problem set 1 out |
2 |
Organic Geochemistry Methods II |
TIE |
|
3 |
DOC, DON, DOP Cycling and Composition |
DJR |
|
4 |
DOC, DON, DOP Cycling and Composition (cont.) |
DJR |
|
5 |
DOC, DON, DOP Cycling and Composition (cont.) |
DJR |
|
6 |
DOC, DON, DOP Cycling and Composition (cont.) |
DJR |
|
7 |
Introduction to Molecular Markers |
TIE |
|
8 |
Carbon Isotopes |
TIE |
|
9 |
Carbon Preservation |
DJR |
Deadline for selection of proposal topics |
10 |
Carbon Preservation II |
DJR |
|
11 |
Student Prop Presentation (Initial) |
TIE/DJR |
Problem set 2 out |
12 |
Particulate Organic Carbon Cycling |
DJR |
|
13 |
Particles, Cape Lookout Bight |
DJR |
Students meet with instructors re-proposals |
14 |
Terrestrial Organic Carbon Inputs to Marine Sediments |
TIE |
|
15 |
Terrestrial Organic Carbon Inputs to Marine Sediments II |
TIE |
|
16 |
Molecular Markers as Tools |
TIE |
|
17 |
Radiocarbon in Organic Materials |
TIE |
|
18 |
Biogeochemical Cycling in Anoxic Marine Sediments I |
DJR |
|
19 |
Biogeochemical Cycling in Anoxic Marine Sediments II |
DJR |
|
20 |
Organic Phosphorus |
BVM |
|
21 |
Old Carbon in the Modern Marine Environment |
TIE |
|
22 |
Introduction to Organic Chemicals of Environmental Concern, Chemical and Physical Properties of Contaminants |
CMR |
Problem set 1 due |
23 |
Fate of Organic Matter Over Geologic Time |
TIE |
|
24 |
Course Review |
TIE/DJR |
|
25 |
Student Presentations |
TIE/DJR |
|
26 |
Student Presentations (cont.) |
TIE/DJR |
Problem set 2 due |
|
Final Exam |
|
|