(note: class sites are password protected; email me if you want access)
ESE-103 - Earth's Biogeochemical Cycles
(Winter, 2012). Global-scale biogeochemical cycles, fluxes, and reservoirs in the solid earth, oceans, biosphere, and atmosphere. Provides an introduction to the hydrologic cycle, weathering and erosion, soil formation, nutrient cycling and limitation, ecosystem function and metrics, photosynthesis, carbon and nitrogen cycle dynamics, atmospheric trace gases, and stable-isotope tracers. Includes studies of variability in biogeochemical cycles over Earth history, and recent modifications by human activities. Problem sets require basic scripting in MatLab. Prerequisite: ESE 101,102 or permission of the instructor. Class meets MWF 11-11:50am in Arms 251.
Ge 145 - Isotopic Biogeochemistry
(Fall, 2011). Advanced graduate-level seminar to discuss research and papers in stable isotope biogeochemistry and geobiology. This year's topic will be "Anatomy of an IRMS". That's right, we will be completely deconstructing our old Finnigan Delta-S to learn how it works (or doesn't). Everything you ever wanted to know about magnetic-sector mass spectrometers. Class will consist of one weekly lecture, and a 2-4 hour lab working on the carcass.
Ge-143 Organic Geochemistry
(Fall, 2010). Introduction to the properties and cycling of natural organic materials. The course is organized to follow the geologic cycle of organic matter, from production in living organisms to burial in sediments and preservation in the rock record. Specific topics include lipid biochemistry and stereochemistry, factors controlling preservation in sediments, methanogenesis, diagnetic alterations of carbon skeletons, fossil fuel production and degradation, life in the deep biosphere, and biomarkers for ancient life. Prerequisite: Ch 41a or equivalent.