Chemical Oceanography

Catalog description

Credits 4. 3 Lecture Hours. 2 Lab Hours. COURSE OVERVIEW. This course introduces the chemical structure and functioning of the ocean as a critical component of the Earth system. You will explore the major and trace chemical constituents of seawater, their sources and sinks and the processes that control their distribution and reactivity. The course emphasizes the interactions between chemistry, biology, physics and geology that determine the composition and behavior of seawater. Key questions include: How do physical properties and ocean circulation influence chemical distributions? What governs the cycling of nutrients and gases? How do redox reactions and microbial metabolisms shape marine environments? You will engage in problem-solving, quantitative analysis and data interpretation through lectures, discussions and lab-based exercises. The course challenges students to connect molecular-scale reactions to global patterns and to consider how ocean chemistry both influences and responds to human-driven environmental change. RELEVANCE AND APPLICATION. The chemistry of the ocean plays a central role in regulating Earth’s climate, sustaining life and buffering human impacts. Understanding these processes is essential for interpreting climate change, predicting ocean acidification, managing marine resources and maintaining ecosystem health. This course provides a foundation for advanced study in oceanography, marine biology, environmental science and geochemistry. Students develop quantitative skills relevant to laboratory and field research, environmental monitoring and data-driven decision-making. Beyond professional preparation, the course fosters scientific literacy and critical thinking about the chemical links between the ocean, atmosphere and human activity. By connecting ocean chemistry to global challenges, students gain tools to engage in evidence-based reasoning and contribute to sustainable solutions in their communities and careers. KEY TOPICS AND THEMES. Key topics include the composition and properties of seawater, salinity, residence time and conservative vs. non-conservative elements, gas exchange and the role of the ocean in atmospheric regulation, organic matter production, remineralization and nutrient cycling, redox reactions and biogeochemical pathways, carbonate chemistry and the ocean carbon system, nitrogen and phosphorus cycling and their role in biological productivity, anthropogenic carbon emissions and ocean acidification, quantitative techniques in marine chemistry and the integration of physical, chemical, geological and biological processes in the ocean. Prerequisites: CHEM 120 and OCNG 251 .