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2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses School of Science Undergraduate major in Earth and Planetary Sciences

Biogeochemistry

Academic unit or major
Undergraduate major in Earth and Planetary Sciences
Instructor(s)
Yuichiro Ueno
Class Format
Lecture (Face-to-face)
Media-enhanced courses
-
Day of week/Period
(Classrooms)
3-4 Tue (理学院 地球惑星科学系石川台2号館318室) / 3-4 Fri (理学院 地球惑星科学系石川台2号館318室)
Class
-
Course Code
EPS.A334
Number of credits
200
Course offered
2025
Offered quarter
3Q
Syllabus updated
Mar 19, 2025
Language
Japanese

Syllabus

Course overview and goals

First half of this course focusses on physical and chemical environment in the atmosphere and oceans. Then, the basics of environmental microbiology will be examined for understanding interactions between the environmental and biological processes. Interim exam will be held for enhancing student's understanding. Latter half of this course focusses on global biogeochemical cycles, particularly for carbon. Evolution of Earth's biosphere in a geological time scale will be examined.

Course description and aims

The goal of this course is to understand environmental factors enabling the Earth habitable. First, this course will examine physical, chemical and biological processes in the atmosphere and oceans for understanding the present day biogeochemical cycling. Then, environmental changes in a geological time scale will be examined. Quantitative understanding is necessary to analyze material cycles through the interaction between environmental and biological processes and to understanding its evolution.

Keywords

Atmosphere, Ocean, Biosphere, Biogeochemical Cycle

Competencies

  • Specialist skills
  • Intercultural skills
  • Communication skills
  • Critical thinking skills
  • Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

Summary slides and reference papers will be distributed at the end of each chapter. Student performance will be assessed by interim and final exams.

Course schedule/Objectives

Course schedule Objectives
Class 1

Introduction: Planetary Environment and Life

Biogeochemical cycling

Class 2

Planetary Atmosphere 1 - Structure

Total atmospheric pressure, Hypsometric equation

Class 3

Planetary Atmosphere 2 - Temperature

Green house effect, convective adjustment

Class 4

Planetary Atmosphere 3 - Chemistry

Photochemistry

Class 5

Atmosphere-Ocean Interaction

Partitioning of volatiles between atmosphere and ocean

Class 6

Ocean Chemistry

Equilibrium of carbonate system

Class 7

Biological Processes in the Ocean

Biological Pump 

Class 8

Environmental Microbiology

autotrophy, carbon and nitrogen fixation

Class 9

Thermodynamic Aspects of Microbiology

Energy metabolism

Class 10

Interim Exam.

Interim Exam.

Class 11

Biogeochemical Cycle 1 - Basics

Residence tiime

Class 12

Biogeochemical Cycle 2 - Carbon cycle and Atmospheric O2

Great Oxidation Event (GOE)

Class 13

Biogeochemical Cycle 3 - Analysis of Environmental Evolution using Stable Isotopes

安定同位体地球化学 

Class 14

Biogeochemical Cycle 3 - Climate

Faint Young Sun Paradox 

Class 15

Summary: Evolution of Biosphere

Summary 

Study advice (preparation and review)

To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.

Textbook(s)

Introduction to Atmospheric Chemistry Daniel Jacob (1999)

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Geochemistry, Sadao Matsuo
Biogeochemistry, Minagawa ed. (2005)

Evaluation methods and criteria

Student performance will be assessed by interim and final exams.

Related courses

  • EPS.A203 : Introduction to History of the Earth
  • EPS.A338 : Earth System Science
  • EPS.A423 : Geochemistry B

Prerequisites

None