Marine Isotope Geochemistry - MNS 383

Fall 2006, MW 10:30-12:00, MSI Video Classroom and ACES room TBD

Description
This course will cover the wide-ranging utility of isotopic techniques in marine geochemistry, oceanography, paleoceanography, biogeochemistry, and isotope ecology. We will discuss stable, radiogenic, cosmogenic, uranium-series, anthropogenic, and "honorary" isotopes (such as the rare-earth elements and anthropogenic CFC's).

For each subtopic of the course, the instructors will deliver an introductory lecture or set of lectures, after which we will delve into specific and, for the most part, recent applications and areas of study based on the primary literature.

Examples include iron isotope geochemistry, cosmogenic phosphorus isotopes as tracers of upper ocean productivity, thorium isotopes and particle cycling, radium and radon isotopes to quantify submarine groundwater discharge to coastal waters, marine records of Cenozoic climate variation, carbon and nitrogen isotopes as tracers of food web processes, and life history of fishes from isotope measurements in otoliths.

Instructors:
Hedy Edmonds, edmonds@utmsi.utexas.edu
Jim McClelland, jimm@utmsi.utexas.edu

Prerequisites:
Undergraduate degree in earth science, marine science, or chemistry. Marine Biogeochemistry (MNS 482C, offered Summer 2006) or Global Biogeochemical Cycles (GEO 388G) would be helpful but are not required. This course is complementary to other isotopes courses at UT including Environmental Isotope Geochemistry (GEO 388H), Isotope Ecology (GEO 391), and Isotope Geology. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about your preparation for the course.