CEG2604 : Global Element Cycling
- Offered for Year: 2019/20
- Module Leader(s): Dr Jon Telling
- Owning School: Natural and Environmental Sciences
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
Aims
Providing an introduction to the concept of biogeochemical element cycles, including interactions between the atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere and biosphere via positive and negative feedback mechanisms.
Enhancing students’ understanding of the most important macro- and micro-nutrient cycles in terrestrial and marine environments.
Enabling students to comprehend the relevance of various chemical elements and their cycles in the context of societal issues (e.g., mining of fertilizers for agriculture) and global climate change (e.g., biological carbon pump).
Raising awareness about the use of geochemical palaeo-proxies for reconstructions of past changes in global element cycles, in the context of potential environmental conditions in the future.
Further enhancing students’ ability to understand and handle chemical equations in the context of global element cycles, including isotope systematics.
Outline Of Syllabus
1. Biogeochemical cycles of chemical elements within the Earth system, topics to be covered include: Co-evolution of life and Earth’s chemical composition, formation of rocks, rock weathering, terrestrial and marine biota, atmospheric gases.
2. The critical role of the oceans in global element cycling, topics to be covered include: The biological carbon pump, the alkalinity pump, macro- and micronutrients, hydrothermal activity, marine resources.
3. The concept of redox reactions, topics to be included: Valence and oxidation status of elements, organic matter degradation and early diagenesis, transformations of metals.
4. From elements to isotopes, topics to be included: The CO2-carbonate system, isotope fractionation, element and isotope analysis.
5. Reconstructing element cycling in the past, topic to be included: The evolution of atmosphere and ocean chemistry, inorganic geochemical proxies for productivity/redox conditions/sediment provenance.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 9 | 0:30 | 4:30 | Revision for in class test |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 10:00 | 10:00 | Essay preparation |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 15 | 1:00 | 15:00 | Lectures |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 7:30 | 7:30 | Revision for exam |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 1:30 | 1:30 | Unseen written exam |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 6 | 1:00 | 6:00 | Tutorials and in class tests |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 55:30 | 55:30 | Includes background reading and reading lecture notes for full understanding of material. |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures introduce core information (linked directly to all Intended Knowledge Outcomes). Small group teaching (tutorials) is designed to put this information into context of “real world examples”, and to apply information to solving explicit problems, encouraging a deeper understanding of gained core information and further reading (linked directly to Intended Skills and Knowledge Outcomes).
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination | 90 | 2 | A | 50 | Unseen written exam |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 2 | M | 20 | Free choice of topic related to biogeochemical cycling of a chemical element (approx. 1000 words) |
| Written exercise | 2 | M | 30 | 6 x in class open book tests (each test worth 5%) |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Essay will introduce them to focused literature search, and the extraction and formulation of key information in written form (linked directly to Intended Skills and Knowledge Outcomes). Written exam will test their capability to process and transfer gathered information in a structured manner in a limited amount of time. Geochemical calculations will familiarise the students with the use of geochemical software and data analysis. The in class tests will assess the student's ability to analyse, interpret and discuss datasets and scientific literature.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- CEG2604's Timetable