NBIK14001U Climate Change and Biogeochemical Cycles

Volume 2018/2019
Education

MSc Programme in Biology
MSc Programme in Climate Change
MSc Programme in Biology with a minor subject

Content

The focus of the course is on the effects of climate change on biogeochemical cycles, and on the feedbacks from biogeochemical cycles to climate. These overarching themes are adrressed in the course elements across different compartments in the Earth System, and across scales. Special attention is paid to the unmanaged terrestrial environment for two reasons: It covers the majority of the land area of the globe, and very direct interactions occur between plants, soil, and the atmosphere when compared to the aquatic environment. Terrestrial carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus cycling and the interactions between the cycles are covered. Lessons are given in radiation and energy balance, photosynthesis and respiration at leaf, plant, canopy, landscape, and biome level. Greenhouse gas (including carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide) emissions and the biogeochemical processes behind the emissions, are discussed, including the impacts of these processes at the ecosystem scale and regional/global scale. Biogenic volatile organic compound emissions, the interactions with the atmosphere and feedbacks on the climate system are covered. Effects of land use and management, the contribution of agroecosystems to greenhouse gas emissions and mitigation potential are addressed. Biogeochemical cycling in the global ocean is particularly important for maintaining the state of the Earth System. The most important of these cycles (C, N, P, O, Si) are presented and the potential climate effects of their anthropogenic perturbation examined.

The themes of the course are:

  • Studying interactions between biogeochemical cycles and climate: experiments, monitoring and modelling
  • Carbon cycling in unmanaged terrestrial ecosystems, primary production
  • Decomposition and methane emission
  • Terrestrial nitrogen and phosphorus cycles
  • Ecosystem-atmosphere interactions and feedbacks on climate
  • Biogeochemical fluxes in agricultural ecosystems
  • Carbon and nutrient cycling in oceans
Learning Outcome

Knowledge:

  • Describe the biogeochemical cycling in terrestrial and aquatic environment
  • Understand biogeochemical and ecophysiological processes controlling ecosystem productivity and ecosystem dynamics at monthly-decadal timescales
  • Explain the exchange of gases in terrestrial ecosystems at leaf and canopy level, and effects of climate change on the processes


Skills:

  • Evaluate the effects of climate change on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems
  • Identify possible feedback mechanisms between the biogeochemical cycles and the climate
  • Discuss the impact of land use and management on biogeochemical processes in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems


Competences:

  • Critically examine scientific and popular articles as well as to mediate them orally and in writing
  • Reflect over and analyze the impacts of climate change on the complex interactions between the plants, soil and the atmosphere
  • Evaluate and debate about different mitigation options
  • Compare and contrast biogeochemical cycling in terrestrial ecosystems and oceans

See Absalon

The form of teaching is class room teaching with active participation of students by means of mandatory group projects, discussions and modelling exercises. Excursions to institutes conducting research on climate change and biogeochemical cycles include talks by experts on specific topics as well as demonstrations on experimental work and methods.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Exam
  • 4
  • Excursions
  • 21
  • Lectures
  • 22
  • Preparation
  • 138
  • Project work
  • 21
  • Total
  • 206
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written examination, 4 hours under invigilation
The course has been selected for ITX exam on Peter Bangs Vej.
Exam registration requirements

Participation in at least 80% of the group work and handing in two group assignments.

Aid
All aids allowed

The University will make computers and power available to students taking written exams with invigilation in the University’s building on Peter Bangs Vej 36 (ITX). These students are therefore not permitted to bring their own computers, tablets or mobile phones. If textbooks and/or notes are permitted, according to the course description, these must be in paper format or on a USB flash drive.

Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Several internal examiners
Re-exam

As ordinary.

If ten or fewer students have signed up for re-exam, the type of assessment will be changed to oral exam.

If the exam registration requirements are not fulfilled the student must hand in two individual assignments no later than two weeks before the reexam.

Criteria for exam assesment

In order to obtain the grade 12 the student should convincingly and accurately demonstrate the knowledge, skills and competences described under Learning Outcome.