OCEA& 100: Introduction to Oceanography

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Class Program

Oceanography

Credits

Weekly Contact Hours

Course ID

091788

Meets Degree Requirements For

Natural Science

Description

Investigation of the marine environment covering the geological, physical, chemical, biological and environmental processes which occur in the ocean. Topics include perspectives of oceanography, the intertidal zones, plate tectonics, islands, plankton and nekton, marine mammals, and pollution.

Grading Basis

Graded

Course Learning Outcomes

Understand the marine environment in terms of basic scientific concepts and vocabulary, information in areas of intensive scientific interest and public concern, interactions between the living world and the physical environment of the marine environment, "headline" topics in Oceanography, the relationships between Oceanography, technology & society and the relevance & importance of the marine environment in their daily lives.

Be able to communicate their understanding of the marine environment through written exams and research reports.

Be more informed, competent and confident with a broader and more practical understanding of oceanographic concepts.

Core Topics

Survey of the scope of Oceanography - water planet, cosmic origins, historical perspectives, waters of the earth, ocean's edge, the intertidal zone.
Physical environment - continental margins, beyond land's end, plate tectonics, islands, marine meteorology, ocean currents.
Tides, Waves & Introduction to marine life - wind waves and water dynamics, the ebb and flow, plankton, nekton, reptiles & birds, seals & otters.
Marine life, sight & sound - dolphins & whales, living together, light in the sea, sound in the sea, life under pressure, polar seas.
Tropical seas & human interactions - the tropic seas, mineral resources, biological resources, marine pollution, future studies.