Oeanography:
An Introduction to Marine Science
GLG/BIO 394, Fall
2005: M, W 10:40-11:55
SS-208
oceanography.asu.edu
Instructor:
Dr. Susanne Neuer
(susanne.neuer@asu.edu)
Office hours: M, W
1-2 PM, or by appointment LSE (Life Sciences Tower)-421
(480-727-7254)
Welcome
to Oceanography! Why care about oceans in the desert? Oceans cover more than
three quarters of the surface of Earth and contain more than 95% of its water
resources. Without the ocean, life
would not have evolved, nor could be sustained, as we know it. Climate has been and will be regulated
by the oceans, thus in short:
There is no place on Earth that we can escape the ocean and its
legacy. And the future with its
challenges of global climate change will focus our attention on the ocean and
its dynamics more than ever in the past.
In this class we will embark together on a journey of ocean discovery,
and with the tools that the various science disciplines make available, we will
study this great and exciting environment.
Total: 100 points
90-100:A; 80-89: B; 70-79: C;
55-69:D
v
Midterm and Final Exam: 60
points
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5 quizzes: 20
points.
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A project on a current
issue in oceanography: 20 points.
Project: This is a scientific dossier (3 pages text, single
spaced, 12 pt, cited literature and graphics/pictures separately, overall
length no longer than 5 pages) about an oceanographic topic of your particular
interest. For example, current
topics in oceanography might be selected ecosystems and possible environmental concerns,
such as coral reefs, hydrothermal vent communities or the open ocean plankton,
or a topic on ÒOceans and Human
HealthÓ. You may be interested in climate
related phenomena such as El Nino, the role of the ocean in mediating carbon
dioxide levels, teaching about oceans and global change in K-12, politics of
climate change (international agreements such as Kyoto protocol, carbon credits),
the movie: ÒDay after tomorrowÓ, what is science and what is fiction, etc. If
you want to get together with someone to explore different aspects of a topic
that is fine, and we can schedule the presentations in tandem. I am interested that every person brings in their own
set of experience, interests and background. List of topics will be posted on Blackboard.
I will set a date for handing in the initial Ôletter of intentÕ (ca 200 words)
and a final date to turn in the written project.
RESOURCES
v
Book: Introductory
Oceanography, 10th edition, Thurman/Burton, Prentice Hall
v
Web site of the text
book with links to other useful sites
http://wps.prenhall.com/
v
Oceanography web site
with additional web links http://oceanography.asu.edu/,
+ Blackboard
Please be prepared to access Blackboard
regularly for updates, and utilize the various resources available online. Computers are available for use in the LS-A
Learning Center, the computer commons or the libraries if you do not have your
own. Please keep up with the assigned chapter readings (see Syllabus), and of
course, it is very important to be in class on a regular basis. We will have
lecture notes or posted, but these are not designed to substitute attending the
lecture! Also, there will be extra
credit opportunities such as in class assignments. Keep up with the material;
it will be very difficult to study everything in a couple of nights before the
exam!
Tentative Syllabus
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Week/Dates |
Topic/Chapter |
Comment ts |
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1/ Aug. 21, 23 |
Introduction Introduction to oceanography, scientific way of thinking Ch. 1 Some history of ocean discovery |
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2/ Aug. 28, 30 |
Ch. 2 Origin of
planet Earth and life Ch. 2 contd Origin of planet Earth and life |
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3/ Sept. 5 |
Ch. 3 Plate tectonics |
Sept. 4, Labor Day, class excused |
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4/ Sept. 11, 13 |
Ch. 3 contd Plate tectonics |
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5/ Sept. 18, 20 |
Ch. 4 Marine provinces Ch. 5 Marine sediments |
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6/ Sept. 25, 27 |
Ch. 5, contd. Marine sediments Ch. 6 Physical and chemical properties of seawater |
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7/ Oct. 2, 4 |
Ch. 6 contd. Physical and chemical properties of seawater Ch. 7 Air-sea interaction
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8/ Oct. 9, 11 |
Review
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Oct.11, Midterm exam |
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9/ Oct. 16, 18 |
Ch. 7, contd. Air-sea interaction Ch. 8 Ocean circulation |
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10/ Oct. 23, 25 |
Ch. 8, contd. Ocean circulation |
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11/ Oct. 30, Nov. 1 |
Ch. 9 Waves |
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12/ Nov. 6, 8 |
Ch. 11 Shores Ch. 10 Tides |
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13/ Nov. 13, 15 |
Ch. 13 Life in the Ocean Ch. 13, 15 The pelagic environment |
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14/ Nov. 20, 22 |
Ch 14 Biological productivity and food webs |
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15/ Nov. 27, 29 |
Carbon Cycle |
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Oceans and Global Climate |
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16/ Dec. 4, 6 |
Review |
Dec. 6, Reading Day
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17/ Dec. 11 |
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Final Exam |