Marine Science 20: Intro to Oceanography Hybrid; Spring 2010 Saddleback College
Professor Kalon Morris
kmorris@saddleback.edu
Classroom: SM 105
Office: SM 136
(949) 582-4649
Office Hours: Tue / Thur 11:30-noon (in office) and online through Blackboard
Students may be dropped by the instructor for non-attendance, but it is
your responsibility to drop if you must. Every student at Saddleback College is here by
choice. If you choose not to participate or to disturb the class, I will drop you.
This class will investigate the reasons why the ocean, atmosphere, and earth work
and look the way they do. It is not enough to just memorize facts and names; students
must understand the physical concepts that are discussed in class in order to explain why
the ocean works like it does. As a 4-unit class, students should expect to spend 12 hours
per week on this class.
Tentative Schedule
Week 1: begins Jan 11
Online Lecture: Introduction and class logistics
Lab: Introduction and Lab Safety
Week 2: Jan 18
Online Lecture: The Future of Ocean Science; Ch 13
Lab: Navigating the Southern California Bight (Lab #1)
Week 3: Jan 25
Online Lecture: Ocean in the Earth System; Ch 1
Lab: Modeling the Earth's Crust: Isostasy (Lab #2)
Week 4: Feb 1
Online Lecture: Ocean Basins and Plate Tectonics; Ch 2
Lab: Rocks and Minerals (Lab #3)
Week 5: Feb 8
Online Lecture: Properties of Ocean Water; Ch 3
Lab: Rock and Minerals ID quiz and Sedimentation Rates, Part 1 (Lab #4)
Week 6: Feb 15
Online Lecture: Marine Sediments; Ch 4
Lab: Sedimentation Rates and Turbidity Currents, Part 2 (Lab #4)
Week 7: Feb 22
Scripps Institution of Oceanography Birch Aquarium and Tide Pools Field Trip (Lab 12)
Week 8: Mar 1
Online Lecture: The Atmosphere and Ocean; Ch 5
Lab: Salinity (Lab #5)
Week 9: Mar 8
Online Lecture: Ocean Currents; Ch 6
Lab: Solar Radiation, Albedo, and Turbidity (Lab #7)
Week 10: Mar 22
Online Lecture: Ocean Waves and Tides; Ch 7
Lab: Saltwater Density and Sea Ice Formation (Lab #6)
Week 11: Mar 29
Online Lecture: The Dynamic Coast; Ch 8
Lab: Dissolved Oxygen and pH (Lab #8)
Week 12: Apr 5
Online Lecture: Marine Ecosystems; Ch 9
Lab: Waves (Lab #9)
Week 13: Apr 12
Online Lecture: Life in the Ocean; Ch 10
Lab: Research Cruise Field Trip from Dana Point
Week 14: Apr 19
Online Lecture: The Ocean, Atmosphere, and Climate Variability; Ch 11
Lab: Fresh and Saltwater Mixing in Estuaries (Lab #10)
Week 15: Apr 26
Online Lecture: The Ocean and Climate Change; Ch 12
Lab: Coastal Bluffs, Beach Processes, and Erosion at Calafia Beach Field Trip (Lab #13)
Week 16: May 3
Online Lecture: Ocean Problems and Policy; Ch 15
Lab: For Tue - Plankton and Carbon (Lab #11); for Thursday – Lab Manuals due
Week 17: May 10
Online Lecture: Final Exam
Lab (Tuesday only): Lab Manuals Due
Textbooks:
American Meteorological Society’s “Ocean Studies Student Package
2009-2010” contains Ocean Studies textbook by Moran and Investigation Manual; older
editions will NOT work; and
"Introduction to Oceanography Lab Manual" by Morris 2nd edition
Course Reading:
The Chapters listed above are from the Ocean Studies textbook and are required.
I will provide any additional required reading during the semester.
Course Work:
The majority of the work for the class will be completed through Blackboard. Go
to socccd.blackboard.com and login with your Saddleback username and password (same
as used for MySite). Each week a new set of assignments will be posted. They will
include textbook reading, answering Review and Critical Thinking questions from the
textbook chapter, completing investigation exercises from the Investigation Manual and
the AMS Online Ocean Studies webpage, and quizzes from additional videos/readings
posted in Blackboard.
Labs:
Half of your lab grade will be the pre-lab quiz (completed in lab) and
participation. You must be present and participate in the entire lab to receive credit!
You will turn in your completed lab manual during the last lab of the semester (or when I
tell you a lab is due) for the rest of the lab grade.
Grading:
Your written work for the class (Review and Critical Thinking questions) will
count for 30% of your grade; the Lab portion of the class will count for 30% of your
grade; the Final Exam will count for 25% of your grade; the Investigation exercises and
other quizzes will count for the remaining 15%. I anticipate that the final grading curve
for this class will be anything greater than 85%=A, >75%=B, >65%=C, >55%=D. Below
55% is a failing grade.
Attendance / Quizzes:
Attendance at all labs is essential to your performance in this class.
Questions:
Please feel free to ask me questions at any time (about the course or not). The
best way to reach me is during office hours and by email (kmorris@saddleback.edu).
Field Trips:
Several local, off-campus field trips are required as part of this class. Most are
conducted during class time. I will provide more information during the semester.
Academic Honesty:
Cheating, Plagiarism, and Fabrication are not allowed. See the Saddleback
College Student Handbook and the Saddleback Website for official college policies.
Student Services:
Any student with a documented disability needing academic adjustments or
accommodations is required to speak with the professor. All discussions will remain
confidential.
PLEASE TURN OFF AND PUT AWAY YOUR CELL PHONE BEFORE
ENTERING CLASS!!