EEOS D EPARTMENT I NTRODUCTION TO O CEANOGRAPHY S PRING 2006
Course Description : Introduction to Oceanography
First of all, thank you for signing up for my course.
Course meets Tuesdays and Thursdays (3 hours a week), with no lab component. This course satisfies the general education requirements. Although there are no prerequisites, a basic science background is helpful. This course introduces the student to the scientific study of the oceans by exploring basic principles from marine science sub-disciplines such as chemical, physical, geological, and biological oceanography.
Text Book: FUNDAMENTALS OF OCEANOGRAPHY (Fifth Edition), Sverdrup and Duxbury,
ISBN 0-07-282678-9
Attendance Policy: Attendance is mandatory. More than 4 absences will be penalized at a rate of 5 point off attendance grade. Attendance will be monitored. Attendance will be considered when deciding borderline grades. Any excused absence requires a neatly written or typed explanation of why you will miss or have missed and must have supporting documentation (Dr. excuse, tow bill, etc.). It is your responsibility to submit the documentation during office hours and discuss the missed test, class or assignment with me when you return to class and before the end of the semester
– no exceptions.
Grade Evaluation and Policies: Your final grade will be determined from the following:
Attendance/participation 10%; Projects and presentations 30%; 2 Exams 60%.
Test dates will be announced 1 week in advance. Reviews will be held in the class prior to each test. The test content will focus largely on the lecture notes and any sections recommended directly from the textbook. All exams/tests are provided in multiple-choice, short answer and fill in the blank.
Extra Credit: Extra credit assignment will be available for no more than 5% additional added to your final course grade. Please see the instructor if you have interest in this effort.
Your final letter grade will be based on the following percentile ranges:
90 - 100 = A 80 - 89 = B 70 - 79 = C 60 - 69 = D 59 or less = F
Statement of Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the use of ideas, facts, opinions, illustrative materials, data, direct or indirect wording of another scholar and/or writer - professional or student - without giving proper credit. Expulsion, suspension, or any lesser penalty may be imposed for plagiarism.
Beepers and cell phones: Are disturbing to the class as a whole. Both are required to be turned off during all classes- no exceptions. If your phone and/or beeper goes off during class you will be expected to leave the classroom for the remainder of the lecture.
Handicap Policy : Any student having a certified handicapping condition must visit the Office of Disabled Student Services
(ODSS) before any course modifications can be made. Any student having such a condition should also meet privately with the instructor prior to the end of the first week of class.
Course Success Statement: To be successful in this course, you are expected to attend class regularly, prepare for class by reading assigned work prior to class meetings, completing and submitting take-home assignments by the scheduled deadlines, and asking questions in/out of class.

Tu Feb 21
Th Feb 23
Tu Feb 28
Th Mar 2
Tu Mar 7
Th Mar 9
Mar 13-18
Tu Mar 21
Th Mar 23
Tu Mar 28
Th Mar 30
Tu Apr 4
Th Apr 6
Tentative Course Outline: The instructor reserves the right to modify the schedule when appropriate;
Date
Tu Jan 24
Lecture Topic
Geological Oceanography
Intro & History of Oceanography
Th Jan 26
Tu Jan 31
Th Feb 2
Tu Feb 7
Th Feb 9
Tu Feb 14
Th Feb 16
Origin of Earth & Oceans
Geologic History of the Oceans
Plate Tectonics – Theory & Evidence
Plate Tectonics – Mechanism & Hydrothermal Systems
Continental margins and hot spots
Ocean floor
Sediments
Chemical Oceanography
Global Ocean Chemistry overview
Properties of water, salinity
Ocean processes – organic matter, nutrients
Ocean processes - CO2
Gases in seawater
Tu Apr 11
Th Apr 13
Tu Apr 18
MID-TERM EXAM
SPRING BREAK
Physical Oceanography
Light & sound in the sea
Ocean circulation & currents
Water masses
Waves & Tides the Gulf Stream; El Nino
Coastline, coastal processes and marginal seas
Estuaries; beaches
The oceans and climate
Shorelines; storms
Biological Oceanography
Ecosystems
Primary production
Th Apr 20
Tu Apr 25
Th Apr 27
Tu May 2
Th May 4
Tu May 9
Th May11
Tu May 16
Food chains, food webs and trophic levels
Hydrothermal went; Coral reefs
Classification of marine organisms
Biodiversity
Global Ocean issues
FINAL EXAM
Readings
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
43-56
Chapter 3
63-69
Chapter 4
84-90
Chapter 5
109
114
114-119
Chapter 7
Chapter 9
Chapter 6
Chapter 10
250; 302
Chapter 11/12
308