Module Information

This module will explore the chemistry of natural waters and soils. Waters and soils are critical for human existence as the medium in which our food is produced and as the waters we drink. The module aims to provide undergraduates with understanding of the processes that control the chemical composition of surface waters, ground waters and soils. The module will concentrate on fundamental processes operating in the natural world, but with consideration of pollution and the ways in which we can clean up pollution given our understanding of these natural processes.

The course will be focussed around weekly 2-hour lectures and associated weekly workbooks for you to complete. The aim of the workbook is for you to embed learning from the lectures and also to practice answering questions that will be in the same approximate format as the final exam. The module will also include a report writing component based upon field collected data. The module will start by considering the principles of water chemistry and the broad chemical differences between major global water reservoirs. It will then move on to consider controls on water chemistry, chemical weathering, soil formation, carbonate geochemistry and the carbon cycle. Finally we will consider ways in which we can manipulate these natural processes in order to help clean up contaminated waters and soils. Practical aspects linking theory and practice in the environmental sector will be considered.