14828 - Isotopes in Environmental Science Modulübersicht
| Module Number: | 14828 |
| Module Title: | Isotopes in Environmental Science |
| Isotopen in Umweltwissenschaften | |
| Department: | Faculty 2 - Environment and Natural Sciences |
| Responsible Staff Member: |
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| Language of Teaching / Examination: | English |
| Duration: | 1 semester |
| Frequency of Offer: | Every winter semester |
| Credits: | 6 |
| Learning Outcome: | Lectures and textbook reading: the students will be familiar with the major stable isotopes of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen used in studies of Environmental Science. They understand fractionation and mixing processes, the use of stable isotopes as tracers in process studies, and they have knowledge on instrumentation and standards. Exercises: the students are able to plan and conduct a project using stable isotopes, including data analysis. Seminar: The students understand the structure of scientific publications and are able to critically analyze and evaluate research results. |
| Contents: | The course offers a broad introduction to the use of stable isotopes (SI) in Environmental Science. Basic knowledge on terminology, fractionation processes, isotope mixing, instrumentation and standards. The topics covered are plants and photosynthesis; atmosphere and greenhouse gases; soil nutrient cycles; water isotopes in the landscape. Selected aspects will be further explored in the accompanying seminar using scientific publications and orally presented by the students. |
| Recommended Prerequisites: | Chemistry I: General and Inorganic Chemistry Or equivalent |
| Mandatory Prerequisites: | None |
| Forms of Teaching and Proportion: |
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| Teaching Materials and Literature: | Mandatory textbook: Cotrufo & Pressler (2023) A primer on stable isotopes in ecology. Oxford University Press Additional literature will be handed out |
| Module Examination: | Continuous Assessment (MCA) |
| Assessment Mode for Module Examination: | 1. 8 assignments from exercises (40%) 2. Oral presentation based on scientific publication, ca. 15-20 min. (30%) 3. Written final assessment, 4-5 pages (30 %) |
| Evaluation of Module Examination: | Performance Verification – graded |
| Limited Number of Participants: | 25 |
| Part of the Study Programme: |
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| Remarks: | None |
| Module Components: | 1. Lecture Isotopes in Environmental Science (240294) 2. Exercises Isotopes in Environmental Science (240293) |
| Components to be offered in the Current Semester: |