Class Schedule
Honors Oceanography - Spring 2004
Reading assignments will be announced in class.
| Date | Topic |
|---|---|
| Weeks 1 - 3 |
Section I: Plate
Tectonics and the Shape of the Sea Instructor: Dr. Donna Witter |
| Jan 12 | Science and Society - Current Issues in Oceanography |
|
Jan 14 |
Earthquakes and the Structure of the Earth |
| Jan 16 | Plate Tectonics and the Dynamic Earth |
|
Jan 19 |
Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No Class |
|
Jan 21 |
Plate Boundaries: Seams in the Lithosphere |
| Jan 23 | Plate Tectonics and Ancient Oceans - Turn in Journals |
| Jan 26 | Building a Tropical Paradise - Hot Spots |
|
Jan 28 |
Discussion: Life on the Edge (Plate Tectonics and Society) |
| Jan 30 | Test 1: Plate Tectonics and the Shape of the Sea |
| Weeks 4-6 |
Section II: Life in
the Ocean Instructor: Dr. Alison Smith |
|
Feb 2 |
Conditions for Life in the Ocean: Temperature, Salinity, Light, and Sound |
|
Feb 4 |
Conditions for Life in the Ocean: Dissolved Gases, Productivity and Nutrients |
| Feb 6 | Basic Ecology: Trophic Pyramid from Top to Bottom |
|
Feb 9 |
Adapting to Life's Problems: Reproduction and Dispersal |
|
Feb 11 |
Biodiversity Extremes: Coral Reefs vs Deep Ocean |
| Feb 13 | Fishing Industry: How Does it Work? Ecological Impacts - Turn in Journals |
|
Feb 16 |
Fishing Industry: Economic Impact |
|
Feb 18 |
Discussion: What is the Future for Life in the Sea? |
| Feb 20 | Test 2: Life in the Ocean |
| Weeks 7-9 |
Section III: Ocean
Circulation, Chemistry, and Pollution Instructor: Dr. Donald Palmer |
|
Feb 23 |
Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulation (Garrison Chapters 8 and 9) |
|
Feb 25 |
Ocean Circulation and Water Masses |
| Feb 27 | Thermohaline Circulation |
|
Mar 1 |
Chemistry of Seawater: Gases and Dissolved Solids (Garrison Chapter 7) |
|
Mar 3 |
Natural Controls on the Chemistry of the Ocean |
| Mar 5 | Ocean Pollution: Heavy Metals, Bioamplification (Garrison Chapter 18) - Turn in Journals |
|
Mar 8 |
Ocean Pollution: Petroleum and Organic Chemicals |
|
Mar 10 |
Discussion: Managing Ocean Chemistry |
| Mar 12 | Test 3: Ocean Circulation, Chemistry, and Pollution |
| Weeks 10-12 |
Section IV: Coastal
Processes Instructor: Dr. Andrew Moore |
|
Mar 15 |
Types of Coasts |
|
Mar 17 |
Waves |
| Mar 19 | Wave Refraction and Diffraction |
| Mar 22 - 26 | Spring Break - No Class |
|
Mar 29 |
Longshore Drift and Coastal Management |
|
Mar 31 |
Tides |
| Apr 2 | Storms - Turn in Journals |
|
Apr 5 |
Coastal Profile |
|
Apr 7 |
Tsunamis |
| Apr 9 | Test 4: Coastal Processes |
| Weeks 13 - 15 |
Section V: Climate
Change and the Oceans Instructor: Dr. Joseph Ortiz |
|
Apr 12 |
Natural Climate Variability: Heat Capacity and Seasonal Cycles |
|
Apr 14 |
Natural Climate Variability: Ocean-Atmosphere Interaction and Inter-annual Variability |
| Apr 16 | Natural Climate Variability: Abrupt Climate Change and the Conveyor |
|
Apr 19 |
Natural Climate Variability: Forcing and Cyclic Responses |
|
Apr 21 |
Anthropogenic Climate Forcing: What is the Greenhouse Effect? |
| Apr 23 | Anthropogenic Climate Forcing: Human Impacts on Climate - Turn in Journals |
|
Apr 26 |
Readings and Discussion: Future Sea Level Variability |
|
Apr 28 |
Readings and Discussion: Deep Ocean Warming |
| Apr 30 | Review for Final Exam |
| Final Exam Week | |
|
Tues. May 4 |
Turn in Journals |
| Thurs. May 6 | Final Exam (10:15 am - 12:30 pm) |