see lower left for Banner photo credits

Kent State University Department of Geology

Oceanography GEOL 21080 Section 1 and Section 2 (Honors) -  Spring, 2013 

 
Instructor: Dr. Alison Smith
   Office McGilvrey 219
   Phone 330-672-3709
   Fax 330-672-7949
   Email alisonjs@kent.edu
   Mailbox Dept. of Geology
  (McGilvrey 221)
   
   
Course Num: Geol 21080, Section 001 and Honors 002
Lecture: Tues/Thurs, 12:30 to 1:45 pm
Classroom: McGilvrey 302
Additional Honors Section Thursdays, 2:15-3:05 pm
McGilvrey 331
Office Hours: 9:30-11 am Tues/Thurs or by appointment
Class Syllabus, Reading Assignments, and Online Notes
Grading Policy
Academic Calendar (Spring, 2013) with Registration Deadlines
Student Accessibility Policy
FAQs About this Course

Rationale & Learning Objectives: 
The ocean comprises about 70% of the Earth's surface area and plays a critical role in the cycling of energy and matter between the Earth's various physical, chemical and biological systems.  Despite this, many people are unaware of how this vast body of water impacts the world around them. 

1.  Students will take away with them an understanding of the basic principles of oceanography from geology, chemistry, physics and biology.

2.  Students will see how the sea "works" as a system.

3.  Students will be able to explain key processes, including coastal erosion, tides, surface circulation,  and thermohaline circulation.

4.  Students will learn how and where the ocean is most vulnerable to human impacts, and what the potential outcomes of human impact are on the sea and on human populations. 

About the course web site:

This web site is maintained by the course instructor and posted on the University's web server.   Click here to email comments about the web site to the instructor.  

Banner Photo Credits, from left to right

A:  Atafu Atoll, Tokelau, Southern Pacific Ocean.  Photo taken by Expedition 18 Crew, NASA/JSC, while onboard the International Space Station

B.  Image 2585 NOAA's Coral Kingdom Collection, Photographer Steven Cook, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

C.  Image 2703, NOAA's America's Coastlines Collection, Maine, Mt. Desert Island, Acadia national Park, Photographer Captain A. E. Theberge, NOAA.

D.  Copepod with eggs (Zooplankton) Image fish3260, NOAA's Fisheries Collection, Photographer Matt Wilson/Jay Clark, NOAA NMFS AFSC

Back to the Kent State Department of Geology Homepage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Color coded model of amplitude of Japan tsunami during the first 24 hours beginning March 11, 2011

                                                      Credit: NOAA Center forTsunami Research
  

Text: Exploring the World Ocean- by W.S. Chamberlin & T. D. Dickey, 2008, ISBN #978-0-07-301654-2

 textbook web site for animations, study guides, practice quizzes, and more

NOTE:  This book is available as a custom-made paperback book through the KSU bookstore (title is simply Oceanography GEOL 21080, Kent State University).  If you would like this as an electronic version instead, you can either download the whole thing to your computer, or simply retain access to the book from any computer with internet capability.  The URL to order the custom e-book is 

https://create.mcgraw-hill.com/shop/#/catalog/details/?isbn=9781121207257

 
USEFUL LINKS...
How to Succeed in this Course  (Study tips)
What do I need to know?  (Study questions for each exam)
Careers in Oceanography
Careers in Geology
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Photo Library
NASA website-The Visible Earth Satellite Images

Registration Requirement

Registration Requirement: The official registration deadline for this course is January 27nd, 2013. University policy requires all students to be officially registered in each class they are attending. Students who are not officially registered for a course by published deadlines should not be attending classes and will not receive credit or a grade for the course. Each student must confirm enrollment by checking his/her class schedule (using Student Tools in FlashFast) prior to the deadline indicated. Registration errors must be corrected prior to the deadline.  The last date to drop this course is March 24th.