Biogeochemistry

Code:

AMB2003

Acronym:

AMB2003

Level:

200

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Environmental Sciences

Instance: 2021/2022 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Geosciences, Environment and Spatial Plannings
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Environmental Sciences and Technology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
L:CTA	55	Plano estudos a partir do ano letivo 2016/17	2	-	6	56	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

Basic knowledge related to biogeochemistry concepts are provided to students in order to understanding the processes involved during transport and fixation of macronutrients across the Earth reservatories.

Learning outcomes and competences

The main aim is to allow the scientific understanding of the biogeochemical processes, taking into account the dynamic of the macronutrients and their compounds during the evolution of the biogeochemical cycles. A strong contribute is given for trainning professionals with competence and capacity to implement new environmental technology and economically acceptable solutions.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

Program

Module I (Chemistry)
Theoretical Classes: Biogeochemical cycle of water. The chemical and physical properties of water. Introduction to ocean chemistry. The sea surface microlayer (SML) and biogeochemical cycles.

Interactions between compartments of the earth. Phase interactions (liquid-gas, solid-liquid and gas-solid).

Gas solubility and gas-liquid interactions in biogeochemical cycles.

• Atmospheric CO₂ uptake by the oceans and their fixation in organic matter.
• CO₂ released into the atmosphere by respiration and decay of organic matter.
• Dimethylsulfide (CH₃SCH₃, DMS) and methyl iodide (CH₃I) release.
• Dissolved oxygen in the oceans.

Acid-base and precipitation reactions and the biogeochemical cycles.

The CO₂/H₂CO₃/HCO₃^-/CO₃^2- system.

Precipitation and solubilization reactions: influence of pH. Deposition of CaCO₃. Carbon dioxide and its implications for ocean acidification and coral reefs dynamics.

Iron and manganese biogeochemistry in oceans and sediments.

Oxidation-Reductions reactions involved in the nitrogen, sulfur and carbon Biogeochemical cycles.

Complexation reactions in water.

Importance of chemical and biochemical aspects of microbial activity and its importance to the redox phenomena  involved in biogeochemical cycles.



Theoretical-practical classes
Exercises will be conducted for the application of material taught in the lectures.
Calculations of gas solubilities in water.
Acid-based calculations applied to natural water systems; construction and interpretation of distribution diagrams acid-based calculations applied to natural water systems; construction and interpretation distribution diagrams (Bjerrum diagrams).
Oxidation-Reduction, construction and interpretation of pE-pH diagrams (Pourbaix diagrams) relevant to biogeochemical cycles.
Complexation and speciation calculations.




Practical classes
Módulo I (Quimica)
Presentation / Disclosure to the Student of few useful tools to prepare Papers and Thesis: Access from outside by VPN (Virtual Private Network) ISI Web of Knowledge - How to search scientific information. Virtual Library @ UP - Presentation of available resources, including databases of e-Books and Journals. EndNote - Presentation of the potential of the program for the management and maintenance of databases of scientific articles, Integration with Word and management of references - How to write Bibliographical references: Presentation of the Portuguese Standard 405 (NP405).

Practical works: Characterization of seawater (Sampling and analysis: pH, pE, Dissolved Oxygen, Conductivity, alkalinity and hardness). Translocation Study of Zinc, Copper and Nitrate from water to plants. Chemical speciation of metals in the soil by atomic absorption spectrometry. Interpretation of results.

Module II (Geology)
Theoretical Classes: Biogeochemical Cycles - The carbon, the Nitrogen, the Phosphorus, the Sulfur and the Oxygen cycles - past and present. - The biogeochemical cycle of metals and metalloids: Hg and As.

Theoretical-practical classes

Modeling Biogeochemical Cycles - Models of boxes (box models) - Systems with a reservoir: conservative and reactive species; elemental and isotopic ratios. - Systems with several reservoirs and various chemical species.

Practical classes

  

Mandatory literature

Schlesinger, W.H.; Biogeochemistry, Elsevier, 2005. ISBN: ISBN-13: 978-0080446424

Complementary Bibliography

Stanley E. Manahan; Environmental Chemistry, CRC, 2005. ISBN: ISBN-13: 978-0854046799
Vários; Biogeochemistry of Marine Systems, KENNETH D. BLACK and GRAHAM B. SHIMMIELD, 2003. ISBN: ISBN 1–84127–327–9 (Blackwell Publishing, CRC Press)

Teaching methods and learning activities

The course has a theoretical component where students attend presentations on key topics covered in the course.

Since it is a discipline with an essentially formative, topics are discussed with the aid of examples in the field of biogeochemistry that allow the consolidation of knowledge and its integration into large biogeochemical cycles.

In theoretical and practical component, students are encouraged to learn to correctly interpret the questions and plan responses to problems. The problems are intended to be solved individually or in small groups.

The support materials used in this course will be made available to students in the Moodle platform of the University.

The practical component of Module 1 is entirely laboratorial. Students work in groups and carry out various practical works. Practical assignments are appropriate to the theoretical component of the course, so another opportunity to apply knowledge to new situations.

In addition to the practical work, students prepare a synthesis work on a topic chosen from a list previously available. In this component, are also trained skills related to collection, processing and presentation of bibliographic information and drafting work / thesis, using the resources available for UP, namely "ISI Web of Knowledge," the resource "Virtual Library of UP", the "EndNote" and Reference writing "Portuguese Standard (NP405)".

Students are advised to consolidate the topics presented in theoretical lectures, on an ongoing basis throughout the semester, either by reading the recommended literature, either by preparing questions / problems or practical work, that will discuss and solve in the theoretical-practice lessons or during the preparation of the practical work.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	70,00
Trabalho laboratorial	30,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Elaboração de relatório/dissertação/tese	10,00
Estudo autónomo	96,00
Frequência das aulas	33,60
Trabalho de investigação	10,00
Trabalho laboratorial	12,40
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Must be present in the theoretical-practical lessons and practices.

The student may not miss more than one quarter of the expected number of theoretical-practical classes (excluding students in special situation that is legally exempt from fulfilling the attendance).

The distributed assessment will consist of a test, T1, not obligatory, to be held during the semester (after finishing classes for Module 1), focusing only on the subjects taught in this module.

Examination of the regular season will consist of two parts E1 and E2. Students who obtain grade ≥ 7.0 (scale 0-20) in T1 shall be exempt from part E1 of the final exam, but should always perform E2.

Students who took the test T1 can only re-take the part E1 in the resource exam.

Final Exam score (NEF) = 0.6 x (T1 or E1) + 0.4 x (E2)

Calculation formula of final grade

NEF - Final Exame Note: 70 %

NP - Practical note: 30 %

Final note: NEF x 0,70 + NP x 0,30

This criterion applies to all exam periods.

In Module I, the Practice Note (NP) is calculated based on the assessment of the performance in practical work and respective reports (with a weight of 60%) and a written work on a topic assigned for this purpose, which will weight 40% in the practical note.

Examinations or Special Assignments

Internship work/project

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Students with Student Worker statute that does not attend practical classes must present a monograph on a topic that will be defined. In these cases, the mark will be equal to the practical note obtained in this monograph work.

Classification improvement

Improvement of Final Grade / Distributed Improvement of final grade: Completion of examination. Final Note: Based on the criterion of evaluation of the academic year in which the student has passed the course.

Observations