Marine chemistry is a subset of the broader field of marine science. Some students choose a degree in marine chemistry, while others choose a major such as chemistry that’s related.
David Hastings is a marine chemist and retired university teacher. He’s here to explain the courses you’ll need to study for marine chemistry.
Marine Chemistry Courses
At the undergraduate level, Marine Chemistry courses provide an introduction to studying the ocean’s chemistry. The field of chemistry is broad and includes many different topics, such as the study of chemical bonds, the chemical properties of different compounds, kinetics (how fast reactions occur), and thermodynamics, which deals with the energy and work of a system. Marine chemistry students might also work with marine bacteria, viruses, plants, and animals living in the ocean but may also study life in other bodies of water, such as lakes.
Like many of the subjects required for a marine chemistry degree, you’ll work in the classroom and the laboratory. If you are lucky enough to live near the ocean or a large body of water, you might also do field work.
Chemistry
David Hastings states that an excellent understanding of General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, and Inorganic Chemistry is essential for marine chemistry. Environmental Chemistry can also be very useful. Like biology, there are many branches of chemistry. The more chemistry classes you take, the better you can approach complex problems in marine chemistry. You’ll learn about kinetics or how energy is absorbed or released when chemical changes occur.
Once you’ve taken general chemistry courses, you may focus on a specific branch, like marine chemistry, marine geochemistry, physical chemistry, or environmental chemistry.
Marine Geochemistry
Marine Geochemistry is a subset of marine chemistry. It includes how material enters the ocean from various sources, including rivers, the atmosphere, and hydrothermal sources. It also includes the study of trace elements, marine sediments, and how material degrades over time. It is especially useful in understanding Geochemical and biogeochemical processes in oceans. Fluvial, atmospheric, hydrothermal sources of materials, trace elements, sediments, interstitial waters, diagenesis, and geochemical proxies of climate change. This includes anatomy, cell biology, and chemical processes within the body.
Ethical Studies
As with other scientists, marine chemists must also act ethically, according to David Hastings. They frequently interact with marine animals and the ocean environment. They must also understand the ethical principles of science when conducting research.
Marine Chemistry and Climate Change
The oceans take up 90 percent of the
Conservation and Management
Conservation and management focus on the conservation and management of animals and their environments or habitats. It looks at environmental concerns and how they can be overcome, focusing on how human practices impact animals.
Oceanography
Oceanography blends many sciences. It includes chemical oceanography, which is the study of the chemical composition of the ocean. Physical oceanography focuses on how oceans mix, including the study of physical conditions and physical processes within the ocean. We are familiar with the tides and currents of the ocean. Geological oceanography allows students to learn about geological processes in the ocean and especially on the ocean floor and the shoreline. Biological oceanography focuses on marine organisms, including marine bacteria and viruses.
Students will learn about these types of oceanography, and how they interact with each other.
David Hastings
David Hastings is a marine geochemist and a chemical oceanographer. His research has focused on paleoclimatology, which is the study of how the earth’s climate has changed in the past. He also studies microplastics and how they impact ocean life.
He began teaching at Eckerd college in 2000. He taught marine science, chemistry, and environmental science until his retirement.