Course Description

Marine Chemistry (MC 360)

Objectives: The student will be familiar with different chemical reactions in seawater

Contents: The chemical and physical properties of pure water molecule – The effect of salinity on the chemical and physical properties of water molecule -   Ionic interaction – Acid-base reactions - Complexation  reactions – Redox reactions- Dissolved gases.

Required Text(s):

- Stumm, W. and Morgan, J. J. (1996). Aquatic Chemistry. John Wiley & Sons.

Essential References:

- Meites, L. (1981). An Introduction to Chemical equilibrium and kinetics. Pergamon Press.

- Libes, S. M. (Ed.) (1992). An Introduction to Marine Biogeochemistry. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Singapore.

Prerequisite: CHEM 110 + MS 201

Marine Analytical Chemistry (MC 361)

Objectives: The course aims at familiarizing the student with the most advanced analytical techniques applied in the analysis of seawater and sediments including their theoretical basis. Full understanding of the principals of the analytical methods and techniques is primordial for the optimal use of the instruments and the production of high quality data.

Contents: Statistics of analytical errors and sampling - Principles of spectrophotometry, fluorometry, segmented flow injection, flame photometry plasma emission (ICP) and atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) - Electrochemical techniques including polarography and  ion selective electrodes - Chromatography methods and application - Mass spectroscopy and application .

Required Text(s):

- Gianguzza, A., Pelizzei, E. and Sammartano, S. (1997). Marine Chemistry: An Environmental Analytical Chemistry. Springer.

Essential References:

- Skoog, D. A., West, D. M.  and Holler, F. J. (1992). Fundamental of Analytical Chemistry. Harcourt Brace & Company.

Prerequisite: CHEM 110 + MS 201

Marine Organic  Chemistry (MC370)

Objectives: The marine organic chemistry course provides the student a fundamental understanding of major marine biogeochmical cycles and their interaction with physical and biological components of marine system.

Contents: Importance of marine organic matter- source of organic matter in marine environment – Primary production in Seawater - Classification of organic matter (dissolved & particulate) and its composition - Distribution and fate of organic compounds- Interaction between organic matter & minerals - Organic sulphur compounds - Chemistry of aquatic humic substances.

Practical:  Determination of chlorophyll, carbohydrates, proteins and lipids in seawater using different techniques - Separation and determination of  dissolved humic acids in seawater.

Required Text(s):

- Hansell, D. and Carlson, C. (2002). Biogeochemistry of Marine Dissolved Organic Matter. Academic Press, London.

Essential References:

- Duursma, E. K. and Dawson, R. (1981). Marine Organic Chemistry. Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company. Amsterdam, Holland.

- Libes, S. M. (1992). An Introduction to Marine Biogeochemistry. John Wiley & Sons, Singapore.

Prerequisite: CHEM 110 + MS 201

Chemistry of Coastal Waters (MC371)

Objectives: Identification of the physical and chemical characteristics of the coastal area and transition features such as estuaries. The student should be able to identify the chemical processes taking place in coastal waters, including estuaries, and how and to what extent these chemical processes could be affected by other geological, physical and biological processes. The interaction of these processes will define the fate of material in the coastal water.

Contents: Coastal area is the interface between land and ocean. Biological, chemical, geological and physical processes taking place in the coastal area largely control the flux and cycling of material between land and ocean. The course deals with the following: 1)- Identification of the coastal area (coastal features; landward and seaward limits, importance; types of stress coastal area is exposed to due its situation as transition area between land and ocean). 2)- Chemical and physical features that characterize the coastal area; due to the elevated concentrations of suspended material interactions at the solid-water interface will be stressed. The course also introduces estuaries as one of the most important transition water bodies. Types of estuaries, estuarine circulation, and material transportation across the interface, behavior of dissolved substances and speciation of some dissolved constituents will be detailed

Required Text(s):

- Guanguzza, A. Pelizzetti, E.and Sammartano, S. (2002). Chemistry of Marine Waters and Sediments. Springer.

Essential References:

- Olausson, E. and Cato, I. (1980). Chemistry and Biogeochemistry of Estuaries, Willey, New York.

- Stumm, W. and Morgan, J. J. (1981). Aquatic Chemistry, 2^nd Edition. John Willey, New York.

Prerequisite: CHEM 360

Marine Pollution (MC372)

Objectives: The most important aspects of the pollution of the marine environment are the hazard to human being caused by consuming polluted fish and shellfish and the damage inflicted on marine organisms and ecosystems. Most students are not familiar with marine environments and know little about pollution. Consequently, this course integrates material on marine pollution from the field of marine science and offers a unified approach to controlling the adverse effects of wastes disposal in the marine environment.

Contents: Marine pollution is a major issue at this time. There are many pathways by which pollutants enter the marine environments. This course deals with the following: an evaluation of the sources of marine pollutants (Organic Wastes – Oil spills – Metals – Halogenated hydrocarbons – Radioactivity waste – Solid wastes and heat); the magnitude of the problem created by their discharges; the effects caused by them; the fate of these materials in the marine environment and the mechanism for reducing or eliminating their adverse effects.

Practical: Determination of some pollutants in water, organisms and sediments.

Required Text(s):

- Laws, E. A. (2000). Aquatic Pollution. John Wiley, 3 sub edition.

Essential References:

- Bishop, P. L. (1983). Marine Pollution and Its Control. McGraw-Hill Book Company.

- Clark, R. B. (2001). Marine Pollution. Oxford university Press. 5th edition.

- Peirce, J. J., Vesilind, P. A. and Weiner, R. (1997). Environmental Pollution and Control. Butterworth-Heinemann, 4th edition.

- Rana, S. V. S. (2006). Environmental Pollution: Health and Toxicology. Alpha Science International, Ltd.

Prerequisite:  MS 201

Marine Biochemistry (MC462)

Objectives: Better understanding of the marine life, the importance of sea food and variation in the sea life and its importance.

Conents: Photochemical reactions and effects of environment on it- Adaptation of metabolism (proteins, lipids and carbohydrates) in marine animals- Biochemical adaptation for diving- Anaerobic metabolism- Effect of hormones in marine animals- Adaptation of marine animals towards estuaries- Formation and structure of calcified tissues in marine animals and calcium metabolism.

Practical: Estimation of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, cholesterol and amino acids in marine organisms. Separation and determination of lipids (esterolipids, phospholipids and triglycerides). Extraction and isolation of enzymes and estimation of nucleic acids in marine animals- separation of amino acids using chromatography.

Required Text(s):

- Suite, J. W.,  Rinehart, H. and Wiston, A. (1981). Introduction to Biochemistry. New York.

Essential References:

- Murry, R. K.,  Grammer, D. K. and Mayes, P. J. (1987). Harper's Biochemistry. Appletone and Lange, Connecticut.

- Parson, T. R., Takashi, M. T. and Hargrave, H. (1986). Biological Oceanographic Processes. Pergamon Press, New York.

- Thurman, H. V. and Trujilo, A. P. (1995). Essentials of Oceanography. Prentice Hall, New York.  

Prerequisite: CHEM 110 + MS 201

Marine Geochemistry (MC463)

Objectives: Knowledge of the chemical process at air-sea water interface, sea water-marine sediments interface and chemical characteristics of sea water column. Study the formation of the hot brine deep at the Red Sea and the chemical properties of the brine and metalliferous sediments.

Conents: Study the origin and chemical history of the earth’s oceans: Suspended matter - Interstitial water - Chemistry of the marine interfaces (air/water - water/sediments) - Deposition and formation of (nodules - Calcium carbonate - Iron/manganese - Phosphorite and salts).

                General Study the origin of hydrothermal vents: Locations - Theories of formation of hydrothermal vents - Physico/chemical characteristics and interactions with the original sea water - mineralization - Comparison of four hydrothermal systems (Galapagos Spreading Center - 21 North, East Pacific Rise - Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California - and Red Sea hot brines). 

                Detail study of the Red Sea hot brines: Discovery - Numbers and geographical positions - Physical, chemical and geochemical properties - Potential resources and their economic exploitation

Required Text(s):

- Schulz, H. D. and Zabel, M. (2006). Marine Gecochemistry. Springer.

Essential References:

- Anderson, R. N. (1989). Marine Geology. Wiley, John & Sons, Incorporated.

- Chester, R. (2003). Marine Gecochemistry. Blackwell Publishing Limited, 2 edition.

- Cronan, D. S. (1999). Handbook of Marine Mineral Deposits. CRC Press.

- Drever, J. I. (1988). The Geochemistry of Natural Waters. Prentice Hall Professional Technical Reference.

- Krauskopf, K. B. and Bird, D. K. (1994). Introduction to Geochemistry. McGraw-Hill Companies.

- Salomans, W. and Foerstner, U. (1984). Metals in the Hydrocycle. Springer-Verlag New York, Incorporated.

Prerequisite: MC 360 + CHEM 202

Marine Organic Geochemistry (MC 464)

Objectives: The course is design to track the fate of marine organic matter from its formation through its transformation and destruction during depositional, diagenetic (remineralization) and catagenic (petroleum generation) processes.

Conents: The course consists of three main divisions. The first is about the production and fate of organic matter. The second one deals with the condition for accumulation of organic-rich sediments and the chemical diagensis of organic compounds in sediments. The third division deals with formation of high molecular weight compounds (humic materials and kerogen), the molecular evaluation of organic compounds in recent sediments and molecular assessment of organic compounds in ancient sediment and petroleum formation.

Required Text(s):

- Killops, S. D. and Killops, V. (1993). An introduction to Organic Geochemistry. Longmann Grpoup, UK.

Prerequisite: MC 370

Special Topics in Chemical Oceanography (MC465)

Objectives: The course aims at creating and enforcing the relationship between the department’s staff and students and public and private organizations having activities related to oceanography. This will increase the opportunity for the bachelors to find job offers in their field of interest and will deepen the interaction between the department as an academic institution and the production and service sectors of the society.

Contents: A number of lectures covering different subjects related to the marine environment will be given by specialists from some selected organizations such as Saudi Aramco, desalination industry, wastewater treatment, water research institute, etc.

Prerequisite: --

Cycle of Elements in Seawater (MC 473)

Objectives: To make the student understand the relationship between the biotic and abiotic components of the marine ecosystem and to distinguish between the chemical equilibrium and steady state as concepts to explain the constancy of composition of seawater. It also aims at familiarizing the student with biologically intermediated processes participating in the cycling of nutritive elements in the marine environments. It also aims at giving to the student a global vision on the physical processes responsible for the vertical and horizontal segregation of nutrients in the world ocean.

Conents: The course is composed of three distinct parts. The first one deals with energy transfer through the food chain in the marine ecosystem. The second one deals with the major constituents of seawater; those elements that constitute more than 99% of the dissolved constituents.. The cycling of theses elements is detailed and the theories explaining the constancy of their concentrations are presented. The third part deals with the cycling of the natural essential elements of nutritive value (nitrogen and phosphorus) as well as carbon. Cycling of sulfur is also presented due to its coupling with the cycling of other elements. The distribution of nutritive elements in the world Ocean and processes responsible for their vertical and horizontal segregation will also be exposed

Practical: Laboratory experiment to study the kinetics of chemical and bacteriological transformations of phosphorus and nitrogen compounds in seawater under varying environmental conditions such as oxygen availability, light availability and presence of suspended matter.

Required Text(s):

- Gregor, C. B., Garrels, R. M. F. T. Mackenzie, F. T. and Maynar, J. B. (1988). Chemical cycles in the evolution of the earth. John Wiley & Sons, New York.

Essential References:

-    Bolin, B., Degens, E. T., Kempe, K. and Ketner, P (1979). The Global Carbon Cycle. John Willey, New York.

Prerequisite: MC 360

Chemistry of Marine Natural Products (MC474)

Objectives:   The course of Marine Natural Products Chemistry aims to study the bioactive compounds that derived from marine flora and fauna.

Conents: Marine Natural Products Chemistry course deals with the study of bioactive compounds derived from marine flora and fauna. Among the topics covered are marine toxins and venoms, repellent and alarm substances, marine chemical ecology, biosynthesis and functions of secondary metabolites and "state of the art" methods used for the isolation and purification of compounds derived from marine organisms.

Required Text(s):

- Fusetani, N. (2000). Drugs from the Sea. John Wiley & Sons, New York.

Essential References:

- Scheuer, Paul, J. (1973). Chemistry of Marine Natural products. John-Wiley & Sons, New York.

Prerequisite: CHEM 231 + MC 462

Chemical Oceanography  of Regional Seas (MC475)

Objectives: Study the chemical and physical characteristics of the regional sea water.

Contents: Spatial and temporal variations of the chemical and physical characteristics (pressure, temperature, oxygen, salinity, and nutrient salts) at the regional sea water (Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Gulf and Arabian Sea).

Required Text(s):

- Morcos, S. A. (1970). Physical and Chemical Oceanography of the Red Sea. Oceanogr. Mar. Biol. Ann. Rev., vol 8, 73-202

Essential References:

- Edward, A. J. and Head, S. M. (1987). Red Sea. Pergamon Press.

-    Series of unpublished scientific reports resulting from scientific trips to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Prerequisite: MC 463

Research Project (MC490)

Objectives: The student will acquire the skills necessary to critically examine a specific scientific problem and to be able to design and execute an adequate scientific research programme, collect data, interpret it and come with relevant conclusions.

Contents: The student selects his research title with the help of one of the staff members. He undertakes the necessary literature review and gives an oral presentation (seminar) in the presence of the Scientific Committee (SC) of the department by the end of the first ten weeks of the running semester (7^th). If the presentation was accepted by the SC (the student must have sufficient knowledge about his research subject and the interest it has), the student can undertake his research. If the presentation was considered insufficient by the SC, the student is given a second chance to give his oral presentation before the end of the same semester. By the end of the next semester (8^th), the student gives an oral presentation of the results he obtained and prepares the final report.

Prerequisite: --

Trace Metals in Seawater (MC477)

Objectives: it aims is at giving the student with information about distribution and speciation of trace metals in seawater.

Contents: sources and sinks of trace metals in seawater- vertical and horizontal distribution in seawater- biogeochemical cycles of selected trace metals in seawater- speciation of trace metals.

Practical: Determination of trace metals in seawater.

Required Text(s):

- Libes, S. M.  (1992). An Introduction to Marine Biogeochemistry. John Wiley & Sons, New York.

Prerequisite: MC 360

Limnology (MC478)

Objectives: is to introduce the complexity of this ecosystem and how some physical process and facts are interfering and are necessary to understand the chemistry of the environment. It is easier to represent the interdisciplinary aspect in the aquatic studies while studying lakes and small water bodies rather than the seas and oceans.

Contents: Identification of the physical processes, biological activities and chemical interactions that may take place in inland water and how all these parameter are inter-related. The course will introduce the student to the penetration of light in the successive layers of the lake and how light, heat and water stratification are related to the propagation and transfer of dissolved gases and salts. How some physical characteristics such as the morphology and the topography and composition of the catchment area may influence the lake productivity. Demonstration of some basic chemical process will also be introduced to help the student understanding the part played by the lakes in the cycling of elements.

Practical: Detailed chemical analysis of some inland water bodies to identify compositional differences and reasons behind.

Required Text(s):

- Wetzel, R. G. (2001). Limnology: Lake and River Ecosystems. Academic Press, 3rd edition.

Prerequisite: CHEM 202 + MC 360