Sampling Methods and Analysis

The learning outcomes include obtaining of knowledge required for the design and execution of sampling campaigns in the marine environment for the measurement of various physicochemical and biological parameters in water and sediment samples, as well as the relevant procedures of sample treatment before analysis. In addition, the acquaintance of students with the procedures and techniques applied in the field, and also in the laboratory for sampling, water, sediment and biota sample preservation, and their preparation before analysis by techniques such as spectrometry and gas chromatography.  Particular examples of substances of interest are given, that affect the marine environment quality and are of special scientific interest and included in international regulations.  In parallel, the students are acquainted with the terms of experimental error, interferences, method validation, and calculation of recovery, accuracy, repeatability and detection limits. Finally the students obtain knowledge related to the way of presentation of experimental results. Obtaining of field experience in parallel with critical thinking of students in regard to the subject of the lesson is enhanced by laboratory exercises which include the educational sampling campaign with the research vessel Amfitriti and acquaintance with field equipment, and eventually with the preparation of the obligatory report based on the results obtained during the laboratory exercise (e.g. bathymetry, GPS, oceanographic data, transparency). 

Search for, analysis and synthesis of data and information, with the use of the necessary technology  

Adapting to new situations  

Decision-making  

Working independently  

Team work 

Project planning and management  

Respect for the natural environment 

• The lesson includes the following sections: 
• Principles of sampling design, sampling equipment, instruments for analysis of the marine environment parameters in the field,  instruments for water, sediment and biota sampling, materials, interferences, sample pretreatment methods, parameters and methodologies for the analysis of: Organic compounds, Nutrients, Metals, Chemical oceanography methods,  Spectrophotometry, Chromatography, Principles of presentation of the results.  
• The lesson also includes obligatory reports and laboratories. In particular, educational sampling campaigns are executed with the research vessel “Amfitriti” aiming to acquaint students with the sampling instruments as well as the procedure of organization and execution of a sampling campaign. 

The lesson includes lectures (2h/week) and laboratories-educational sampling campaigns, covering the following issues: 

• Presentation and analysis of the course sections 
• Connection to other sections 
• Connection to phenomena observed in the marine environment 
• Acquaintance with field equipment
• Questions to students, discussion-problematics 
• Obligatory report with field results

- Suggested bibliography: 

• Ι. Δεληγιαννάκης, Δ. Χελά, Ι. Κωνσταντίνου, 2010: Ενόργανη Περιβαλλοντική Ανάλυση, Εκδόσεις Τζιόλα, Αθήνα 2010, ISBN: 9789604182336 (In Greek)
• Σημειώσεις μαθήματος «Μεθοδολογίες Λήψης και Επεξεργασίας Δειγμάτων», σελίδες 80 (In Greek)

 Additional References:

• Emerson S.R., Hedges J.I. 2008: Chemical Oceanography and the Marine Carbon Cycle, Cambridge University Press, ISBN: 0521833132

Useful links: 

• Hellenic Center of Marine Research Website http://www.hcmr.gr/indexel.php

- Related academic journals: 

Chemosphere - https://www.journals.elsevier.com/chemosphere/ 

Water Research -https://www.journals.elsevier.com/water-research/ 

Marine Environmental Research - https://www.journals.elsevier.com/marine-environmental-research 

Water, Air and Soil Pollution - https://link.springer.com/journal/11270 

Global Nest Journal -https://journal.gnest.org/