2013/14 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

SOEE3110 Earth System Science: Biogeochemical Cycles

10 creditsClass Size: 50

Module manager: Caroline Peacock
Email: c.peacock@see.leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2013/14

Pre-requisites

SOEE2010

Chemistry of the Earth

This module is mutually exclusive with

SOEE5232M

Biogeochemical Cycles of Earth

This module is not approved as an Elective

Objectives

On completion of the module, students will have an understanding of the major biogeochemical cycles and how they can be used to understand the Earth System.

Students will develop an understanding of the general principles and science of biogeochemistry in relation to the Earth system, and then look in more detail at individual biogeochemical cycles.

Students will undertake scenario testing to look at how changes to the biogeochemical cycles (past, present and future) affect the Earth System, and vice versa.

Skills outcomes
During this modules, students will have the opportunity to further develop their written communication, planning and organisation, information literacy, research, problem solving, numeracy, IT and time management skills. Their written communication skills will be assessed within the context of the exam. Students will also gain the ability to use the Stella software for looking at the impact on the Earth System of simple past and future perturbations to the biogeochemical cycles. Associated skills of problem solving, numeracy, and IT will be tested within the context of the Stella worksheets.

Syllabus

Part 1: During part 1 of the course we will cover the general principles and science of biogeochemistry in relation to the Earth System, including: Use of biogeochemical cycles to understand the Earth System; Box models; STELLA modelling: Water and the hydrosphere and Soil and watershed processes including Environmental Microbiology.

Part 2: In part 2 of the course, we will cover the Individual biogeochemical cycles, including: the global carbon cycle; nitrogen cycle; phosphorous cycle; sulfur cycle. In each case, we will cover the chemical forms of the element, the processes which control its transformations and finally its global cycle. We will look at various scenarios relevant to changing the cycles. We will finish by looking at Human modification of global cycles and climate change.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	10	2.00	20.00
Practical	2	2.00	4.00
Tutorial	1	1.00	1.00
Independent online learning hours			18.00
Private study hours			57.00
Total Contact hours			25.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Private study

Students will be expected to undertake reading after each lecture, based on reading lists that will be given out. In addition, during part 1 of the course we will introduce the computer programme Stella, and students will be expected to practice using this software in their own time. During part 2 of the course, students will be given a variety of scenarios to test using Stella in their own time. The outcomes of this scenario testing will be discussed during the following lecture. Some of this scenario testing will be assessed. Finally, students will be expected to undertake additional reading and revision prior to the examination. An approximate breakdown of private study and independent online learning time is given below:

Private Study (57h total)
Reading: 23 hours
Revision: 34 hours

Online learning (18 hours total)
Software practice: 2 hours
Scenario testing: 14 hours
Assessed scenario testing: 2 hours

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Student progress will be monitored through the use of the scenario tests set as homework during part 2 of the course. These will be discussed at the beginning of the next class, where students will be able to ask questions and gain feedback. There will be several of these scenario tests prior to the assessed scenario tests so that students have the opportunity to gain feedback on the work before the assessment. The assessment will be marked before the end of the module so that students gain marks and feedback on it before the final exam.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Computer Exercise	STELLA worksheet	25.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		25.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)	1 hr 30 mins	75.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		75.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 03/02/2014

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