Overview

This course introduces the fundamental processes occurring in shelf seas and estuaries and examines the relationship between physical, chemical and biological processes and how they have changed through time. Topics covered include: Air-sea interaction (heat, gases etc). Water column structure: seasonal cycle of stratification and mixing and their impact on primary productivity. Inputs of fresh water at the coast and estuarine circulation. Movement of sediments in shelf seas and estuaries. The behaviour of nutrients and other chemicals in the estuarine environment. The evolution of shelf seas since the last glacial maximum. How these processes interact to affect water quality and influence the human management of these important systems. An introduction to numerical modelling of marine systems. The course is taught through lectures, laboratory and computer based practicals.

This course introduces the fundamental processes occurring in shelf seas and estuaries and examines the relationship between physics, chemistry and sediments. Topics covered include: Air-sea interaction (heat, gases etc). Water column structure: seasonal stratification and mixing and their impact on primary productivity. Inputs of fresh water at the coast and estuarine circulation. Movement of sediments in shelf seas and estuaries. The behaviour of nutrients and other chemicals in the estuarine environment. How these processes interact to affect water quality and influence the management of estuaries by man palaeo-oceanography of shelf seas. An introduction to numerical modelling of marine systems.

The course is taught through lectures, laboratory and computer practicals and a field course.

Assessment Strategy

Threshold - (D- grade) Partial understanding of basic principles of shelf sea and estuarine physics. Basic appreciation of the principles of estuarine and shelf sea sedimentation processes. Basic knowledge of the source, cycling and fate of nutrients and other chemicals in estuaries Basic understanding of the palaeo-oceanography of shelf seas

Good - (B grade) Clear understanding of basic principles of shelf sea and estuarine physics. Clear appreciation of the principles of estuarine and shelf sea sedimentation processes. Comprehensive knowledge of the source, cycling and fate of nutrients and other chemicals in estuaries. Good understanding of the palaeo-oceanography of shelf seas

Excellent - (A grade) Thorough understanding of basic principles of shelf sea and estuarine physics. Highly developed appreciation of the principles of estuarine and shelf sea sedimentation processes. Thorough knowledge of the source, cycling and fate of nutrients and other chemicals in estuaries. Highly developed understanding of the palaeo-oceanography of shelf seas.

Learning Outcomes

• Appreciate how physical, chemical, geological and biological processes interact to affect water quality and influence the management of estuaries by man

• Appreciate sources, sinks and cycles of nutrients and other chemicals in estuaries.

• Demonstrate an understanding of the principal chemical processes in shelf seas and estuaries, and how these are related to physical forcing.

• Demonstrate an understanding of the role of the suspended and seabed sediments in shelf seas and estuaries and the processes which control sediment suspension and transport

• Demonstrate an understanding of the way that stratification forms and is destroyed in shelf seas and estuaries, and a knowledge of fronts that lie between stratified and mixed water

• Demonstrate and understanding of key paleo-oceanographic techniques and how they are used to hind cast the evolution of shelf seas

• Master some simple laboratory techniques to assess chemical distributions in estuaries.