Geology 103: Oceanography

Earth is the only planet in our solar system known to possess liquid water, and oceans cover over 70% of its surface. In fact, Earth is nicknamed the “blue planet” because its oceans appear as a vast expanse of blue from space. Not surprisingly, study of the ocean attracts many people. Oceanography is a highly interdisciplinary field with aspects that include geology, chemistry, meteorology, and biology. In this course, we will investigate the geologic origin and physical dynamics of ocean and lake basins, waves and coastal processes, the chemistry of seawater, and the cycling of elements through the atmosphere and ocean. We will also look at marine ecosystems, both past and present, and discuss issues in environmental sustainability. As we learn the basics of oceanography, we will explore the effects of human activity and global warming on ocean circulation, sea level and the world's climate. At the end of the course, you should be able to:

- explain the role of plate tectonics in forming ocean basin landforms and causing sea-level change

- describe the chemistry of seawater and understand simple chemical reactions that occur in the ocean

- explain relationship of ocean circulation to atmospheric circulation, and the impact of ocean currents on weather and climate

- apply your knowledge about the structure of the oceans to predict distribution and ecology of aquatic organisms.

Text: Sverdrup, K.A., Duxbery, A.B., Duxbery,A.C., 2006. Fundamentals of Oceanography, 5th edition. McGrawHill, New York, 342 pp. ISBN: 0-07-282678-9.

Course Grading:

Participation 5%
Mid-Term I                                                 20%
Mid-Term II                                                20%
Oceanography log                                     25%
Final exam                                                  30%

Grades will NOT be scaled or “curved”. What you get is what you get! However, if your mark is near a grade transition (e.g., B to B+) and I find that you have made the effort (e.g., good attendance, participation, etc.) than I will take that into account when determining the final grade.

Exams

The exams will be primarily objective in nature with questions coming from the reading material and lectures. No make-up exams will be given unless an acceptable medical certificate is presented. Mid-Term I ( Sept. 28th, 8 – 9 am ) will cover material from weeks 1 through 5, Mid-Term II ( Nov. 02nd, 8 – 9 am ) materials from weeks 6 through 10. The Final Exam (Dec. 13th, 7 pm ) will be comprehensive.

Oceanography Log

I borrowed the idea for this log from Stephen Nelson , Tulane University for a natural hazard course I taught last year.

Throughout the semester ( August 27 - December 06, 2007 ), students will be asked to collect information about oceanography that is reported in the news. The log should include everything related to oceanography as covered in class (e.g., fisheries, pollution, hurricanes, gulf stream, tsunamis, coastal erosion, El Niño/Southern Oscillation, etc.). The typewritten log will be handed in every 3 weeks (due dates are underlined below) throughout the semester and compared with a log kept by the instructor.

The final typewritten oceanography log should include the following information:

• Topic (fisheries, pollution, etc.)
• Date and location
• Why was it reported in the news? (impact on ecology, economy, humans, etc.)
• Sources of information (newspaper/magazine articles, television/radio reports, internet URLs, etc.)

Entries in the log should be in chronological order and part of the grade will be based on its organisation. Make the instructor's life easy... appearance will count!

While team work is encouraged, the log must be yours , written in your own words. Logs that are exact copies will not be marked.

Cutting and pasting information straight from the Web is not acceptable!!

Here is an example of a possible disaster log. This is just one possible format for the log, so feel free to be creative. Just remember, that the easier it is to read and mark, the better the final grade will be!

Entry 1
Topic: Tropical Storm
Date and Location: July 05, 2007; Atlantic Ocean
Why reported: Possible formation of tropical cyclone in the Atlantic
Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN0540136020070705?src=070507_1322_DOUBLEFEATURE_california_heat_wave

Entry 2
Topic: Lobster fisheries
Date and Location: July 05, 2007; Atlantic Canada
Why reported: Lobster stocks in part of Atlantic Canada are overfished
Source: http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/National/2007/07/05/4314380-sun.html

Entry 3
Topic: Oil spill
Date and Location: July 05, 2007; Scotland coast, Forth
Why reported: Unknown source of spill potentially threatening wildlife
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/6274768.stm

Grading the Oceanography log

In order to mark the logs, I will go through each log and identify all entries. Every entry will count if there was enough information for me to reasonably assume that the entry is valid, or if you provided a source that I could go to verify the information. Each entry is worth 5 points.

Student responsibilities:

• Students are expected to attend every class and to have read the assigned readings before class.
Occassionally I will take attendance in lecture to check. Absence due to athletic obligations are not automatically considered excused absences, but you need to contact me about schedule conflicts as early in the semester as possible. If you are ill and unable to attend class, notify me by phone or e-mail before class.
• Late assignments will not be accepted without prior approval from the instructor.
• There will be no makeup exams unless an acceptable medical certificate is presented.
• Students are responsible for all materials in the assigned readings and lectures.
• Academic integrity (including cheating and plagiarism) is forbidden. It will result in disciplinary action. For information on academic dishonesty and codes of conduct, visit this website.

Acceptable medical certificates:

Medical documentation must be submitted on letterhead from your doctor with signature and date and addressed to the instructor.

Students requiring accommodations as a result of a disability are requested to contact Pam Rose, Director of the Learning Center (ext. 2595) AND notify the instructor within the first 2 weeks of classes. All discussions will remain confidential.

Schedule - Fall 2007

Week

Monday

Wednesday

Friday

Chapter

August 27:

Overview

August 29:

Intro to Oceanography

August 31:

No class