ENVSC503-23A (HAM)

Greenhouse Gas Fluxes from Land

15 Points

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Division of Health Engineering Computing & Science
School of Science
Environmental Science

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What this paper is about

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We need to decrease greenhouse gas emissions from Aotearoa and this course will focus on the emissions from land, the processes that control emissions, and conclude by determining possible mitigation strategies.

The exchange of water, energy, and trace gases between the atmosphere and terrestrial biosphere also underpin the productivity of the land for both agricultural and native ecosystems. These exchanges are also key for controlling greenhouse gas emissions and sustaining global carbon stocks in soil and biomass.

This course will examine the processes and controlling factors of these exchanges at different scales, major methodologies used for their quantification, and possible approaches for mitigating emisisons while maintaining agricultural production.

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How this paper will be taught

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This paper will comprise a series of lectures supported by provided readings (generally weekly). Students will also make oral presentations of peer-reviewed literature either provided in class or that they have found. Lectures slots are 2 hours but are generally complete within 1.5 h providing an opportunity for follow up questions in the remainder of each lecture slot.

Learning will be re-enforced through a laboratory or data analysis experiment that will require individual student reports. The one day laboratory work will occur during the mid-semester break.

There is no final exam but the final assessment will require students to draw knowledge learnt throughout the course to provide a written assignment exploring potential strategies for reducing emissions of CO2, N2O or CH4 from land.

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Required Readings

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These will be provided during the course
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Learning Outcomes

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Students who successfully complete the course should be able to:

  • Describe the global context and importance of exchanges of greenhouse gases between terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • Describe the size of gross and net fluxes of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere for different terrestrial environments and explain the distal and proximate controls of these fluxes
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • Describe the different techniques for measuring magnitude and controls of greenhouse gases and explain the strengths and weaknesses of these different approaches.
    Linked to the following assessments:
  • Describe land use and management practices that control the size of GHG emissions
    Linked to the following assessments:
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Assessments

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How you will be assessed

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Oral presentation of a research paper

Students will be provided a choice of research papers after the first lecture. They each will select one paper and prepare and present a 10 to 15 minute talk summarising the key findings of the paper that will be assessed in class and feedback provided subsequently.

Report on investigation of greenhouse gas measurements

Students will conduct a directed experiment that will examine the physical controls on emissions of a greenhouse gas. A report will handed in that includes: introduction, rationale, methodology, results and interpretative discussion. exact handin date with be discussed in class

Seminar on soil mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions

Students will select a greenhouse gas (CO2, N2O, CH4) or water and land use combination after the final lecture on mitigation. They will then conduct a literature review of 3-4 papers on the combination to present different mitigation/management strategies to optimise losses and/or adverse effects. If there are a large number of students we may run this over to the following week and students will be consulted.

Final report on mitigation of greenhouse gases

This report builds on the final seminar of mitigation practice for a chosen greenhouse gas. Students will have selected a greenhouse gas (CO2, N2O, CH4) and land use combination after the final lecture on mitigation. After their seminar, they will then extend their reading of the literature to answers a series of specific questions on different mitigation/management strategies. Full details of requirements will be provided during the course
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The internal assessment/exam ratio (as stated in the University Calendar) is 100:0. There is no final exam. The final exam makes up 0% of the overall mark.

The internal assessment/exam ratio (as stated in the University Calendar) is 100:0 or 0:0, whichever is more favourable for the student. The final exam makes up either 0% or 0% of the overall mark.

Component DescriptionDue Date TimePercentage of overall markSubmission MethodCompulsory
1. Oral presentation of a research paper
15 Mar 2023
11:00 AM
10
  • Online: Submit through Moodle
  • Presentation: In Class
2. Report on investigation of greenhouse gas measurements
28 Apr 2023
5:00 PM
30
  • Online: Submit through Moodle
3. Seminar on soil mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions
24 May 2023
11:00 AM
20
  • Online: Submit through Moodle
  • Presentation: In Class
4. Final report on mitigation of greenhouse gases
14 Jun 2023
5:00 PM
40
  • Online: Submit through Moodle
Assessment Total:     100    
Failing to complete a compulsory assessment component of a paper will result in an IC grade
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