Introduction to Marine Organic Geochemistry and Ocean Carbon Cycling

The oceans play a critical role in regulating Earth's climate, driven largely by the complex cycle of organic matter. Understanding these chemical processes at a molecular level is key to unlocking the history of our planet and predicting future environmental changes. This text-based course provides a clear foundation in marine organic geochemistry, taking you from basic chemical principles to the global carbon cycle. You will learn how organic carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus are produced, transformed, and preserved within marine sediments and water columns. What you'll learn: Understand the fundamental composition and reactivity of marine organic matter; Analyze microbial recycling pathways and the factors influencing organic matter degradation; Explore the role of oxygen-depleted environments in the burial of organic carbon; Identify the chemical relationships between dissolved and particulate organic matter; Apply biological markers and stable isotope techniques to reconstruct past oceanographic conditions; Examine modern high-resolution analytical workflows used to characterize complex marine organic mixtures. You will start with core chemical definitions and oceanographic concepts before moving on to transport mechanisms, sediment preservation models, and modern analytical techniques. Through clear written explanations and self-paced exercises, you will develop a structured understanding of biogeochemical marine systems. This course is designed for beginning students in earth sciences, chemistry, or environmental studies, requiring no advanced background in oceanography. Start reading today to deepen your understanding of the chemical engines driving our oceans.