Part 3: Chemical Oceanography
Ocean Chemistry
Chemical oceanography studies the composition of seawater and the biogeochemical cycles that control the distribution of elements and compounds. The ocean is a massive reservoir of dissolved substances, playing a critical role in global carbon and nutrient cycles.
Topics in This Part
3.1 Seawater Chemistry
Major and minor elements, residence times, conservative vs non-conservative
3.2 Dissolved Gases
O₂, CO₂, N₂ - solubility, distribution, and biological cycling
3.3 Nutrients & Cycles
Nitrogen, phosphorus, silica, iron - limitation and cycling
3.4 Ocean Acidification
CO₂ uptake, carbonate chemistry, impacts on marine life
3.5 Marine Pollution
Plastics, heavy metals, oil spills, eutrophication
The Carbon Cycle
Ocean Carbon Reservoir
38,000 Gt C
~50× atmospheric carbon
Annual CO₂ Uptake
~2.5 Gt C/yr
~25% of human emissions
UCLA: Blue Planet Oceanography
UCLA lectures on ocean chemistry and dissolved substances.
Blue Planet: Oceanography — Lec 9
Blue Planet: Oceanography — Lec 10
Oceanography Lectures
Lectures on chemical oceanography and marine sediments.
Chemical Oceanography
CLEX: Ocean Carbon Chemistry
Lectures on inorganic carbon chemistry, organic matter export, and the role of the ocean in the global carbon cycle.
Inorganic Carbon Chemistry in the Ocean
Organic Matter Export and Remineralization
Riverine Input and Chemical Composition of the Ocean