SCI93003 - Research Project III (2016)

Not currently available in 2016

The unit will address current research topics on the physical and chemical aspects of the marine environment. The unit will consist of a practical research project that will include planning, experimental design, sampling and analytical techniques, data analysis, and scientific writing. The students will collect original physical and chemical data from a range of coastal and marine ecosystems including sandy beaches, coral reefs, mangrove creeks, estuaries, and seagrass beds and produce a report comparing the different ecosystems. Focus will be given to physical, chemical and biological drivers of carbon dioxide dynamics in different marine ecosystems. The datasets will be used to develop in depth data analysis skills and to produce a scientific report that will be used as the main assessment item.

• Introduction to chemical oceanography.
• Introduction to physical oceanography.
• Sources and sinks of carbon in marine environments.
• Physical drivers of greenhouse gas production and exchange with the atmosphere.
• Natural and anthropogenic drivers of seawater chemistry.
• Influence of climate change and ocean acidification on seawater chemistry.

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.