Terrestrial Chemistry

[0.50] credits · Undergraduate

Chemical reactions within Earth surface environments are vital to element cycling, bioavailability and the remediation of contaminated environments. Soil and saturated sediments (wetlands, lakes, and rivers) are particularly vital reactors for chemical processes that move elements from rocks and minerals to water, biota and the atmosphere. Students in the course explore the major processes governing reactions in soils and freshwater sediments and apply their knowledge to understand contamination and remediation in environments such as legacy mines, acid- and salt-affected soil, as well as the chemical basis for soil productivity.