The course provides an introduction to the chemical reactions and processes in aquatic geosystems and introduces the most important material cycles (e.g. of C, N, S, Fe, Mn). The range of topics includes: global element cycles, residence times of elements in the ocean, geochemical reactions such as redox reactions, solution / precipitation reactions, adsorption / desorption, thermodynamics, kinetics, diagenesis, diffusive material flows.
The course consists of lectures and exercises, in which the theoretical basics are first conveyed and this content is then to be applied or understood in subsequent practical exercises on the computer.

Anders als das Modul "Grundlagen der Allgemeinen Chemie" wird die Vorlesung dieses Moduls von Lehrenden des Fachbereichs Geowissenschaften angeboten. Es werden die für das Studium der Geowissenschaften wichtigen Grundlagen in der Aquatischen Chemie, Organischen Chemie und der Chemie der Gesteine vermittelt.

We will convey basic knowledge regarding the origin of the solar system and elements as well as the chemical composition of the Earth. These basics are essential for all geochemisty related subjects in subsequent semesters.
Key geochemical concepts such as fluxes, reservoirs, and residence times will be introduced and illustrated with examples. Isotopes are introduced and their utility as geochemical tracers as well as sources of information about geobiological processes will demonstrated with examples. The hydrological cycle will be introduced. Emphasis will be placed on the physical and chemical properties of water, physicochemical reactions in solution, and on water-rock reactions. In organic chemistry, we will introduce chemical compound classes, natural products, and introductory knowledge in stereochemistry. The knowledge will be required for an understanding of the composition of organic matter in sedimentary rocks. Chemical degradation reactions that occur in nature on a range of temporal scales will be treated. Additionally, relevant basic knowledge in analytical techniques such as chromatographic separation and mass spectrometry will be discussed.

This practical offers to apply the gained knowledge of the marine environmental archives I courses to an own scientific project. The students are guided through the following steps:

- introduction to the project topic
- discussion of scientific background readings
- formulating scientific questions or hypotheses
- developing strategies to address the given questions
- data retrieval and interpretation
- discussion of results
- preparing a report

Recent interest in gas hydrates emerges from the awareness that hydrate deposits may play significant roles in global and regional processes with societal and economic significance. A global hydrate assessment, although still uncertain, suggests that methane hydrates might represent an important future energy. In addition, other important hydrate questions that have attracted attention include: 1) Is there a feedback between methane hydrate stability and climate? 2) What is the role of methane hydrate in the carbon cycle? and 3) How much does gas hydrate contribute to seafloor stability on continental slopes? What is the future role of methane hydrate as major resource?

Based on theoretical foundations in the module “Biogeochemical Processes: Concepts”, we focus on practical applications in the field followed by intense laboratory work. We will provide a short field exercise and showcase sampling of marine sediments for pore water constituents and solid phase analysis of minerals and lipid biomarkers. Groups of students will work on interdisciplinary projects, designed according to recent research questions/techniques in the fields of marine (in)organic biogeochemistry. Specific topics from the concept module will be discussed in small groups, for example, principles of geochemical fluid fluxes, lipid biomarker analysis or handling of complex data sets.