Department of Marine Sciences

Chemical Oceanography

(1) General

School:	Of the Environment
Academic Unit:	Department of Marine Sciences
Level of studies:	Undergraduate
Course Code:	191ΘΔ3Υ	Semester:	C
Course Title:	Chemical Oceanography
Independent Teaching Activities		Weekly Teaching Hours	Credits
		Total credits	6
Course Type:	special background
Prerequisite Courses:	Officially, there are not prerequisite courses. However, the student is required to have basic background in chemistry and analytical chemistry as well as in Descriptive physical oceanography
Language of Instruction and Examinations:	Greek (tutoring can be offered in English for Erasmus students)
Is the course offered to Erasmus students:	Yes. In their case the language of instruction and examination is English, and the course is adapted depending on each student.
Course Website (Url):	https://www.mar.aegean.gr/index.php?lang=en&lesson=1037&pg=3.1.1

(2) Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Aim of the Chemical Oceanography courses is:

To introduce the basic concepts used in chemical oceanography.
To provide a basic knowledge of chemical processes in the ocean.
To provide background knowledge to undertake more advanced courses dealing with marine chemistry and ocean biogeochemical processes.
To introduce some of the techniques and practical skills needed when undertaking oceanographic chemical sampling and analyses.

At the end of this course the student should:

Know and understand the basic concepts, principles, theories and data related to the seawater chemistry
Be familiar with the hydrological cycle and the unique properties of water.
Be aware of the differences between fresh water and seawater and the reasons for the differences.
Be familiar with conservative and non conservative elements and their behaviour in the oceans using examples including nutrients, major and minor element, and trace metals.
Be aware of the biogeochemical cycles of the major nutrients within the oceans.
Be familiar with the behaviour of dissolved gases in the ocean and their impact on ocean ventilation and carbonate chemistry.
Be able to convert between the different units used in chemical oceanography.
Be familiar with some of the analytical methodologies used for the determination of key chemical parameters in seawater and sediments.
Have the basic knowledge and experience to undertake more advanced courses dealing with marine chemistry and ocean biogeochemical processes and to be asset to his future professional career.
Interact with others in interdisciplinary scientific issues related to the marine environment

General Competences

Apply theory in practice

Search, analyze and synthesize data and information, using the necessary tools

Independent work

Team work

Capacity to work in interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary teams

Respect for the natural environment

Critical and self-critical capacity

Production of free, creative and inductive thinking

(3) Syllabus

Historical overview of the evolution of Oceanography, water distribution and water cycle, the ocean as a chemical system, the water as solvent, the sea water and the effects of electrolytes in water structure, properties of seawater. Chemical composition of seawater – Major constituents. Trace elements in seawater, sources, their different forms and distributions. Dissolved gases in seawater with special reference on oxygen – dissolved oxygen distribution in relation to the thermohaline circulation – hypoxic/anoxic conditions. pH and alkalinity, carbon cycle and the carbon dioxide system – ocean acidification. Nutrients in seawater – nitrogen, phosphorus and silicon cycles –nutrients distribution in relation to the thermohaline circulation - eutrophication. Biological production, remineralisation and export of organic material.

The course includes laboratory practice comprising theory and lab exercises for the determination of basic biochemical parameters in seawater samples: pH, alkalinity, dissolved oxygen, nutrients (phosphate, silicate, nitrate and nitrite, chlorophyll, and organic carbon and phosphorus in sediment samples

(4) Teaching and Learning Methods - Evaluation

Delivery:

Face to face (lectures and lab practice)

Use of Information and Communication Technology:

Use of ICT in teaching (PPT presentations)
Communication with students via e-mail and e-class platform
Uploading course material on e-class system.

Teaching Methods:

	Activity	Semester workload
	Lectures	39
	Laboratory exercises	30
	Lectures	20
	Independent study	60
	Final exam	5
	*Course total*	154

Student Performance Evaluation:

Language of evaluation: Greek. In case of Erasmus students: English.
In special cases, for students with disabilities, evaluation takes place via oral examination.
The final student’s grade is defined by the final exam in the theory of the course (60%) and its overall performance in the laboratory practice (40%).
Evaluation of students in the theory of the course takes place via final written exams. The exam paper comprises multiple choice questions, short-answer questions and open-ended questions.
Evaluation of students in the theoretical part of the lab practice takes place via final written exams. The exam paper comprises multiple choice questions, short-answer questions, open-ended questions and problem solving.
In relation of the lab practice, students are weekly evaluated as well, based on their technical reports (prerequisite for participation at the lab final exam). The average grade of the technical reports contributes by 40% to the overall performance in the laboratory practice.T
he exam paper is accessible to the students for clarifications regarding the final grade.

(5) Attached Bibliography

Theory:

Σκούλλος Μιχαήλ, 2015. Χημική Ωκεανογραφία-μια εισαγωγή στη χημεία του θαλάσσιου περιβάλλοντος. Εκδόσεις Συμμετρία, 256 σελ.:

Δασενάκης, Μ., Λαδάκης, Μ., Καραβόλτσος, Σ., Παρασκευοπούλου, Β., 2015. Χημική Ωκεανογραφία (e-book) Αθήνα: Σύνδεσμος Ελληνικών Ακαδημαϊκών Βιβλιοθηκών. Διαθέσιμο στο https://repository.kallipos.gr/handle/11419/4683

Σακελλαριάδου Φ., 2007. Ωκεανογραφία. Εκδόσεις Σταμούλη Α.Ε., 354 σελ.

Libes, S.M., 1992. An Introduction to Marine Biogeochemistry, John Wiley and Sons, New York.

Pilson, M.E.Q., 1998. An introduction to the chemistry of the sea. Prentice Hall.

Millero, F.J., 2002. Chemical Oceanography (2nd edition), CRC Press, Boca Raton.

Emerson S.R., Hedges J.I. 2008. Chemical oceanography and the marine carbon cycle, Cambridge University Press

Lab:

Lecturer’s Laboratory Notes on Chemical Oceanography (in Greek)

Strickland, J.D.H., Parsons, T.R., 1968. A Practical Handbook of Seawater Analyses. Bulletin of Fisheries Research Board of Canada 167, 310pp.

Methods of seawater analysis, 1983. Grasshoff, K., Ehrhardt, M., Kremling, K., (eds), Verlag Chemie, Weinheim.

Parsons, T.R., Maita, Y., Lalli, C.M., 1984. A manual of chemical and biological methods for seawater analysis. Pergamon Press, New York.

- Related academic journals:

Progress in Oceanography - https://www.journals.elsevier.com/progress-in-oceanography

Marine Chemistry - https://www.journals.elsevier.com/marine-chemistry

Biogeosciences - https://www.biogeosciences.net/

Journal of Marine Systems - https://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-marine-systems

Continental Shelf Research - https://www.journals.elsevier.com/continental-shelf-research

Mediterranean Marine Science - https://ejournals.epublishing.ekt.gr/index.php/hcmr-med-mar-sc

Connection