MARS 1011e – Spring 2016
Introduction to the Marine Environment
The physics, geology and chemistry of the marine environment
This course fulfills the Physical Sciences requirement.
The course syllabus is a general plan for the course; deviations announced to the class by the instructor
may be necessary.
Professor:
Dr. Clifton Buck
Phone: 912‐598‐2418
Email: csbuck@uga.edu
Discussion Group: TBD via Blackboard Collaborate
Course objectives
The goal of this course is to familiarize you with an earth system that influences your lives everyday,
even though you may not be aware of it. In addition, this course seeks to provide you with an
understanding of the scientific process and the role of technology in supporting scientific study.
In this course, we expect you to
1) explore the physical, geological and chemical processes that define the ocean environment
covering over 70% of the earth surface
2) discuss the role of the oceans in regulating global climate, their importance to our natural
resources and the relation between land‐based processes (like earthquakes, volcanoes and the
shape of our coastlines) and the ocean system
3) examine how human activities are changing the ocean.
Although we do not formally cover marine biology (which is covered by MARS 1020 in the spring
semester), MARS 1011e should give you an appreciation for what it must be like to live in the ocean
and for the connections between humans and the blue planet.
Textbook: Investigating Oceanography, 1st edition ebook.
Sverdrup & Kudela. McGraw Hill. (ISBN 978‐0077634605); currently $85.00
Softcover edition is also acceptable but not required but purchase of McGraw Hill Connect Plus access
is required to access the assignments and exams. You may purchase directly from McGraw Hill at
http://shop.mheducation.com/mhshop/productDetails?isbn=0077634608
ELC: Copies of this syllabus, overheads, announcements, assignments, etc. will be available through
UGA’s e‐learning commons at https://www.elc.uga.edu/
Grading & General Course Rules
Attendance. N/A
This course is designed to be completed independently and at your own pace. The course has been divided into 7
modules which cover specific topics within the ocean sciences. Included in these modules are readings from the
text and study questions which must be completed by the due dates shown in the Course Schedule. You should
plan to complete about one chapter per week. After each section exam, the Assignments from the chapters
covered on the exam will no longer be available. Prior to the module closing, you may attempt the study questions
as many times as you like.
Instructor Availability and Response Time
Your class interaction with your instructor and your classmates will take place in Blackboard on a regular,
ongoing basis. Your instructor will be active in Blackboard at least five days per week as well as three
regularly scheduled Discussion Sessions, and you will normally communicate with your instructor in
the open Blackboard discussion forum so that your questions and the instructor’s answers benefit
the entire class. You should send emails directly to your instructor only when you need to discuss
something of a personal or sensitive nature, and in those cases your instructor will generally provide a
response within 24 hours.
Homework. Instructions for registration through the UGA eLC system for the McGraw Hill LMS can be
found here: (TBD) You are responsible for completing the Homework Assignments on the McGraw Hill
LMS website. The readings and homework closing dates are show in the Course Schedule below. You
should plan to complete about one chapter per week but you MUST complete the Homework
Assignments by the due dates shown in the Course Schedule. You can re-do Homework Assignments
until you get a perfect score up to the due date.
Exams. There will be no reading or homework assignments during the week an exam is scheduled. This
time is intended to allow you to study and prepare for the exam. Each exam can be taken only once.
Missed exams. Under extreme circumstances (an excused absence), a make‐up exam will be given.
You must make arrangements prior to the exam date to take a make‐up exam. If you DO NOT show
up for an exam, you will receive a zero. It is your responsibility to contact Dr. Buck by email or phone if
you miss the exam due to unforeseen circumstances.
Academic Honesty:
As a University of Georgia student, you have agreed to abide by the University’s academic honesty
policy, “A Culture of Honesty,” and the Student Honor Code. All academic work must meet the
standards contained in “A Culture of Honesty”. Each student is responsible for informing themselves
about the standards contained in “A Culture of Honesty” before performing any academic work.
Evidence of academic dishonesty will be turned over to the Office of the Vice President for Academic
Affairs for consideration and possible action. The minimum penalty for a student found guilty of
academic dishonesty is a grade of “F” in the course and a note on the student’s transcript. There have
been several recent changes in the academic honesty policy at the University of Georgia. This
information is available on‐line at (Click on the UGA Academic Honesty Policy Statement):
http://www.uga.edu/honesty/. Plagiarism (“to take ideas, writings, etc. from another and pass them off
as one’s own”, Webster’s New World Dictionary) will not be tolerated. Plagiarism ranges from
outsourcing your work to somebody else, to slight rewording of a published text or summarizing a
text without citing it. If you are in doubt consult with the instructor before you hand something in.
Disability Statement. UGA is committed to the success of all learners, and we strive to create an
inclusive and accessible online environment. In collaboration with the Disability Resource Center
(http://drc.uga.edu/), we work with students who have documented disabilities to access reasonable
accommodations and academic supports.
For more information or to speak with a Disability coordinator, please call the Disability Resource Center
at (706)542-8719, TTY only phone (706) 542-8778.
Changes to the Course Syllabus: The course syllabus is a general plan for the course; deviations
from the syllabus when necessary will be announced on the eLC course site. You are responsible
for checking the site and your UGA email daily.
Learning/Study Aides: The instructor i s available to assist you during office hours or by
appointment. You can also find help by contacting the University of Georgia’s Tutorial Service at 706‐
542‐7575
(http://www.uga.edu/dae/services/tutoring/tutoring_index.html). The goal of this course is to help you
learn about oceanography. If you are having trouble with the class, please do not wait until the end of the
semester to ask for help.
Access Statement: The University of Georgia School of Marine Programs is committed to providing
access for all people with disabilities and will provide accommodations if notified prior to the start of
the semester. Please contact the Disability Resource Center if you will need a sign language interpreter,
assisted listening device, or other classroom accommodations. If you would like to discuss classroom
and/or testing accommodations, please discuss your needs with Dr. Buck as soon as possible.
Grading. Grades will be assigned using the following grading scheme (in accordance with UGA’s
new +/‐ grading policy):
100 ‐ 93
percent ‐
A
(4.0)
93 ‐ 90
percent ‐
A‐
(3.7)
90 ‐ 86
percent ‐
B+
(3.3)
86 ‐ 83
percent ‐
B
(3.0)
83 ‐ 80
percent ‐
B‐
(2.7)
80 ‐ 76
percent ‐
C+
(2.3)
76 ‐ 73
percent ‐
C
(2.0)
73 ‐ 70
percent ‐
C‐
(1.7)
70 ‐ 60
percent ‐
D
(1.0)
< 60
percent ‐
F
(0.0)
For more on plus/minus grading see:
http://www.bulletin.uga.edu/PlusMinusGradingFAQ.html
Incompletes. The grade of Incomplete (I) is given to students who, for reason of accident or illness, were
unable to complete a segment of the course. In no case will an Incomplete be given as a means of
avoiding a failing grade.
Copyright: This course may contain copyright protected materials such as audio or video clips, images,
text materials, etc. These items are being used with regard to the Fair Use doctrine in order to enhance
the learning environment. Please do not copy, duplicate, download or distribute these items. The use of
these materials is strictly reserved for this online classroom environment and your use only. All copyright
materials are credited to the copyright holder.
Third-Party Software and FERPA: During this course you might have the opportunity to use public
online services and/or software applications sometimes called third-party software such as a blog or wiki.
While some of these are required assignments, you need not make any personally identifying information
on a public site. Do not post or provide any private information about yourself or your classmates. Where
appropriate you may use a pseudonym or nickname. Some written assignments posted publicly may
require personal reflection/comments, but the assignments will not require you to disclose any personally
identifiable/sensitive information. If you have any concerns about this, please contact your instructor.
Course Schedule.
Module
Objective:
The instructional
goal(s) of the module.
1 - Introduction
(1 week)
Introduce the water
planet.
Activities:
Activities which will
support the instructional
goal of the class meeting
a.
b.
2 – Geology
(3 weeks)
Introduction to the
geology of the marine
environment
a.
b.
Outcomes:
Demonstrable results demonstrating learner’s
meeting of instructional goal.
Read Prologue &
Chap. 1
Complete end of
chapter assignment
(1)
a.
Read Chap. 2, 3,
10
Complete end of
chapter
assignments (3)
a.
b.
c.
b.
c.
Describe Earth’s evolution since the
beginning of the universe
Explain how the Earth’s orbit and
rotations affect the seasons
Describe the hydrologic cycle
Describe Earth’s structure and plate
tectonics
Classify marine sediments
Discuss different types of coastal
margins
Exam 1: Modules 1-2
3 – Physics I
(2 weeks)
4 – Physics II
(2 weeks)
Introduction to the
structure and
circulation of the
ocean
a.
b.
Waves and Tides
a.
b.
Read Chap. 6 & 7
Complete end of
chapter
assignments (2)
a.
Read Chap. 8 & 9
Complete end of
chapter
assignments (2)
a.
b.
Discuss types of waves
Describe equilibrium and dynamic tidal
theory
Read Chap. 4 & 5
Complete end of
chapter
assignments (2)
a.
Describe the water molecule and its
physical characteristics
Relate salinity, density and temperature
Describe the distribution of salts, gases
and nutrients
Read Chap. 11 &
12
Complete end of
chapter
assignments (2)
a.
b.
Describe primary production
Explain the factors controlling the
distribution of life
Read Chap. 15 &
a.
16
Complete end of
chapter
assignments (2)
Cumulative Final Exam
(during Finals Week)
Discuss a range of environmental
issues
b.
Describe heat transport within the
ocean/atmosphere
Describe thermohaline circulation
Exam 2: Modules 3-4
5 – Chemistry
(2 weeks)
6 – Biology
(2 weeks)
Introduction to marine
chemistry
The Living Ocean
a.
b.
a.
b.
7 – Ecosystem
(2 weeks)
Environmental Issues
a.
b.
b.
c.
Grading
Exam 1
Exam 2
Final Exam
Assignments (14)
20%
20%
30%
30%
Student Responsibilities For Testing:
All Students:
1. Students must adhere to the UGA academic honesty policy.
2. Exams require Online Proctoring. There is a $20 fee for each exam.
Online Proctoring
(http://testing.uga.edu/faculty-staff/online-course-exams/online-proctored-exam-instructions)
Online proctoring involves the use of technology to record student activity while taking an exam. It
requires access to a computer with internet connectivity, a microphone, and a webcam. Online proctoring
is available and being used in some online courses beginning in Summer 2013. Check your course
syllabus to determine if online proctoring is being used in your course and/or ask your instructor. If online
proctoring is being used for your exams, information regarding how to access the service and expectations
associated with an approved test environment should appear in your course.
Standards
Cheating on exams is contrary to both academic integrity standards and to ethical standards as articulated
in A Culture of Honesty.
Online-proctored exams are proctored using the Remote Proctor Now system. Students taking onlineproctored exams are required to use this system.
Process
The Remote Proctor Now system will be used with online-proctored exams as instructed by faculty.
Students are required to establish identity following the procedures outline in the Remote Proctor Now
instructions provided at the beginning of a test session.
Students are responsible for self-testing the functionality of the system well in advance of all online
proctored exams in their courses so that any troubleshooting that is required can be accomplished. Check
with your instructor for available practice exams.
Test Environment Requirements
The online testing environment should mimic an 'in class' testing environment, and must conform to the
following:
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A quiet, secure, fully lighted room for the exam
No other people in the room
No communicating with anyone with the exception of contact with a faculty member or support
staff if an emergency occurs
No cell phone use is allowed for any purpose
No leaving the room
Nothing except computer and external cameras on the desktop or tabletop - removal of all books,
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papers, notebooks, or other materials, unless specifically permitted in written guidelines for a
particular exam
External cameras (webcams) should be placed on the lid of the laptop or where it will have a
constant, uninterrupted view of the test taker
No writing on desk or on walls
No music playing
No additional monitors or computers running in the exam room
No headphones or ear buds allowed
No accessing materials within other computer applications such as browser searches on the web
Have the webcam correctly situated:



Webcam must be focused on the individual taking exam at all times.
Nothing may cover the lens of the camera at any time during the exam.
Lighting must be "daylight" quality. Overhead lighting is preferred. If overhead lighting is not
possible, the light source should not be behind the student.
Remote Proctor Now works with a webcam and microphone either built-in or attached to the computer.
These devices identify the student and capture video and audio throughout the exam and upload it to a
secure server. This video will be used for the purpose of establishing if any suspicious activity occurred
during the test. When possible academic dishonesty is observed, the instructor will be provided a copy of
the video.
Wherever the student chooses to take the exam, the testing environment should resemble a traditional
proctored exam environment.
Suspected Violations
All exam videos can and will be reviewed by the course instructor. When suspected violations of the
academic honesty policy occur, appropriate procedures are in place to protect the integrity of the
academic process while ensuring due process. The University of Georgia's academic honesty policy and
procedures, A Culture of Honesty, may be found at: honesty.uga.edu.
A practice test should be completed within the first 7-10 days of the course to ensure that you are able to
run the testing service on your computer and to confirm your familiarity with the testing rules.