Module Details

The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title OCEAN AND CLIMATE SYSTEMS
Code ENVS620
Coordinator Dr C Mahaffey
Earth, Ocean and Ecological Sciences
Claire.Mahaffey@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2018-19 Level 7 FHEQ First Semester 15

Aims

To introduce students with no background in ocean sciences to key concepts in ocean sciences through addressing interaction between oceans and climate and influence of climate change on the ocean on broad temporal and spatial scales.


Learning Outcomes

Students will learn how to take a quantitative and critical approach to ocean and climate sciences

Students will understand and be able to explain and synthesize the cuases of different kinds of sea level change on time scales of up to thousands of years.

Students will understand key concepts in ocean sciences including physical transport of water, heat and nutrients, sea level, carbon and nutrient cycles and phytoplankton growth.

Students will understand and will be able to explain and synthesise the influence of climate change on the oceans at a range of spatial (shelf sea to global) and temporal (seasonal to centennial) scales.

Students will be able to engage with the literature on the study of the influence of climate change on the ocean and critically assess the latest developments.


Syllabus

There will be 4 themes in this module. The order of the themes will vary each year depending on staff availability. The 4 themes are:
 
Theme 1: Science of global warming: use of theory and climate models
 
Week 1: Climate response on centennial to millennial year timescales: connecting carbon emissions to atmospheric carbon dioxide, radiative forcing and surface warming. Climate response after emissions cease and timing of maximum warming.
Guest Lecture: What is a climate model? How to construct a simple climate model.
Week 2: Climate response on multi-decadal to centennial year timescales: connecting carbon emissions, carbon uptake by the ocean and terrestrial systems, ocean heat uptake and surface warming. Maximum carbon emissions before warming targets are reached
Guest Lecture: Comparison of simple climate model and the response of Earth system models for the Transient Climate Response to Carbon Emissions
Week 3: Assessment week:  Students gives a talk about a theme connected to global warming together with a short interview.
 
 Theme 2: The role of the oceans in glacial-interglacial cycles
 
Week 1: Drivers and consequences of glacial-interglacial cycles: introduction to theories of processes that caused glacial-interglacial cycles, impact on temperature and CO2 content of the ocean and atmosphere. Influence of the Southern Ocean.
Guest Lecture: How can we unravelling the partitioning of carbon during glacial-interglacial cycles?
Week 2: Key concepts in the nutrient and trace metal cycles, positive and negative feedbacks and influence on glaci al-interglacial cycles and climate
Week 3: Assessment week: Students will write a 2-page essay of the role of the ocean in glacial-interglacial cycles
 
Theme 3: Global sea level, storm surges and flooding
 
Week 1: Sea level basics. Definitions of sea level, and causes of global sea level change (mass, expansion, the "Munk multiplier", compressibility, energetics).
Guest Lecture: How do we measure Global Sea Level?
Week 2: storm surge dynamics, extreme events and waves.
Week 3: Assessment week:
 
Theme 4: Shelf seas: the influence of climate change on the timing of the spring bloom
 
Week 1: Introduction to physical processes that control water column stability in shelf seas including tides, turbulence and internal waves. Physical and environmental processes that initiate the onset of the phytoplankton spring bloom.
Guest Lecture: Autonomous underwater vehicles and their use in shelf s ea oceanography
Week 2: Influence of climate change on the timing and magnitude of the spring bloom. Consequences for marine ecosystems.

 


Teaching and Learning Strategies

2 x 1 h lecture plus 1 hour gues lecture or worshop per week = 3 hours per week for 8 weeks, then 1 assessment week per module - We will have 2h of lectures per week with a 1 h guest lecture or workshop per week, which will provide a more practical aspect to the course. Each topic will be taught for 3 weeks with the 3rd week being used for assessments, either written or oral.


Teaching Schedule

  Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
Study Hours           24
We will have 2h of lectures per week with a 1 h guest lecture or workshop per week, which will provide a more practical aspect to the course. Each topic will be taught for 3 weeks with the 3rd week being used for assessments, either written or oral.
24
Timetable (if known)              
Private Study 126
TOTAL HOURS 150

Assessment

EXAM Duration Timing
(Semester)
% of
final
mark
Resit/resubmission
opportunity
Penalty for late
submission
Notes
             
CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
(Semester)
% of
final
mark
Resit/resubmission
opportunity
Penalty for late
submission
Notes
Coursework  15 minute presentati  Week 3 of three week teaching   25  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Theme 1: Science of global warming: use of theory and climate models 
Coursework  Written assignment:   Week 3 of three week teaching   25  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Theme 2: The role of the oceans in glacial-interglacial cycles 
Coursework  Written assignment:   Week 3 of three week teaching   25  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Theme 3: Global sea level, storm surges and flooding 
Coursework  Poster presntation i  Week 3 of three week teaching   25  Yes  Standard UoL penalty applies  Theme 4: Shelf seas: the influence of climate change on the timing of the spring Notes (applying to all assessments) - none 

Recommended Texts

Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.
Explanation of Reading List:

Follows and Williams: 2011: Ocean dynamics and the carbon cycle

Simpson and Sharples 2012: Introduction to chemical and biological oceanography of shelf seas
 
Pugh and Woodworth 2014: Sea-level Science: Understanding Tides, Surges, Tsunamis and Mean Sea Level Changes.