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Lecture Topics Brief Outlines (updated 3/22/2011)
III. Oceanography Section
- Introduction, Ocean Basin Morphology
Learning objectives: Introduction to oceanography and its significance, the size and shape of ocean basins.
Reading: Text, pages 260-
Figures to study: Text, Figures 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.9, 9.10, 9.11, 9.13, 9.14, 9.15, 9.
Topics: Introduction to oceanography – physical, biological (marine biology), Chemical, marine geology.
Significance of oceans – life, sediments, coastline/sea level, ocean/atmosphere interactions, climate effects.
Size and shape of ocean basins – oceans cover about 70% of Earth’s surface; distinct ocean basin topography (bathymetry) including shelf, slope, abyssal plain, and mid ocean ridge, and other features such as and seamounts, atolls. Relationship to plate tectonics.
- Waters of the Ocean, Ocean Currents, Waves and Tides, Shoreline phenomena
Learning objectives: Examine the composition of ocean waters and the concept of salinity. Understand the four main causes of currents in the ocean, ocean waves and tides, and shoreline processes.
Reading: Text, pages 78-79, 95-105, 282-
Figures to study: Text, Figures 3.6, 3.7, 3.26, 3.28, 3.39, 10.2, 10.3, 10.6, 10.8, 10.9, 10.10, 10.11, 10.12, 10.16, 10.20, 10.22, 10.23, 10.24, 10.25, 10.26, 10.
Topics: Composition of ocean waters (~3.5% salinity), the water molecule and resultant, unique properties of water, groundwater
Causes of ocean currents – Tides, Trade winds, Temperature variations that result in density differences, and Salinity variations that result in density differences; global ocean currents
Shoreline processes – Beaches, dunes, wave action; erosion and deposition near the shoreline; the longshore current; human effects on the shoreline
- Ocean Pollution, Oil Spills 2
Learning objectives: Continue discussion, better understanding of science/natural resource issue, socio- economic realities (we use a large amount of petroleum in our daily lives), and environmental impact. What are recovery, reduction and prevention methods?
Reading: –
Figures to study: –
Topics: Relative size and significance of the Exxon Valdez spill – comparison to other large spills, other sources of oil and ocean pollution.
Recovery methods when a spill occurs. Environmental impact. Clean-up effectiveness.
Oil pollution prevention and reduction methods.
Other major sources of oil pollution and ocean pollution.
- Marine Biology
Learning objectives: Observe that marine life exists throughout the vast oceans but is concentrated in certain geographic and depth zones because of nutrients. Understand concept of food chain – the base of the food chain is plankton, small organisms that drift passively with currents.
Reading: –
Figures to study: –
Topics: Marine life throughout the vast oceans, even at great depth; but most life concentrated in narrow, shallow coastal zones because of photosynthesis and upwelling of nutrient-rich waters.
The food chain – plankton (phytoplankton, zooplankton, nanoplankton).
