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GENERAL OCEANOGRAPHY (GEOL 1033 P3)
Spring Session, May 8-26, 2006
1:00- 4:00 P.M., Room 19 HSH
Description: Offshore and deep-water oceanography, emphasizing an interdisciplinary approach
and including geological, biological, physical and chemical aspects.
History of
oceanography; exploration techniques, instruments and vessels; origin of oceans and ocean
basins; physiography of the ocean basins; deep-sea sediments; continental drift, sea-floor
spreading and plate tectonics; marine volcanism; waves, tides and ocean currents; climatology
and sea-level changes; marine ecology; marine resources.
General Remarks:
General Oceanography is intended for a wide audience because of its
interdisciplinary nature. It was designed as a science elective course that is broad enough
in appeal for non-science majors and yet challenging enough for science majors who are not
necessarily majoring in geology. General Oceanography introduces students to the fundamental
principles, materials and processes of biological, chemical, geological, geophysical,
physical and technical aspects of oceanography. The history of oceanography is reviewed
through an introduction to exploration, navigation, and research instruments and vessels.
These various studies lead to an informed evaluation of man's impact on oceanic environmental
problems and his future exploitation of ocean resources.
General Oceanography emphasizes offshore and deep-water oceanography as well as a worldwide
approach.
It is a companion course to Coastal Oceanography (GEOLOGY 1053), which, in
contrast, emphasizes the major features, materials, and processes of coastal and nearshore
oceanic environments.
Prerequisites: None. Some high school-level science background is expected, but no previous
college-level science is presumed. Technical jargon is kept to a minimum. Basic high school
mathematics will be sufficient to do the few calculations required by some exercises.
Required Textbooks (Handout available in class on Monday, May 8th):
1.
Study Guide for General Oceanography (1994) by Barry Cameron. Includes a detailed
syllabus of topics and assignments.
Lecture Instructor:
Dr. Barry Cameron,
Geology Department
Mailbox is in Room 327 HSH
Email address is barry.cameron@acadiau.ca
Office = Back corner of Room 32 HSH basement (southwest corridor).
(May be in Room 57 HSH basement or in Room 327 HSH 3rd floor.)
Office Hours:
Evaluation:
M-F 4:00-5:00 P.M.
Please note: The hour just before lecture (noon1:00 PM) is not an office hour. Other times can
be arranged.
3 ACME online Quizzes (2% each)(#1, 5, & 7)
=
Tests (50-minutes; multiple-choice, true-false, matching, etc.):
Test #1 (Friday, May 13, lessons 1-13)
=
Test #2 (Friday, May 20, lessons 14-25, 37)
=
Homework assignments (approximately 25 at about 1% each)
=
Final examination
=
6%
18%
18
25
33
100%
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NOTES: 1.
Improvement will be recognized: If your Final Examination grade is at least higher
by 3% than your lowest test grade, it will replace that lower test grade.
2.
The grade-percent value of one missed test will be added to the grade-percent value
of the final examination.
3.
If you do, and hand in on time, ALL of the written homework assignments, the one
with the lowest grade will be dropped!
4.
The final examination will have a multiple-choice, true-false, matching, etc.,
format, be cumulative, and concentrate somewhat on the last third of the term.
5.
See the current Acadia University Calendar for procedures if the final examination
is to be missed.
6.
PowerPoint lecture files/notes from previous classes will be posted approximately
every week on WWW. Last spring’s lecture files/notes are there now.
7.
Seven sample practice tests have been put on ACME to help you to evaluate your
study progress.
8. At the end of each lesson in the Study Guide, there are study questions and/or
exercises that you should do for review if they are not already assigned in class
or for homework to be graded.
9.
There are also lists of terms to know at the end of each lesson in the Study
Guide.
Homework Assignments:
1.
Read the assigned pages in the Study Guide.
in class.
2.
Bring to class any questions you may have from the reading assignment.
3.
Know the meaning of the key terms listed at the end of each Study Guide lesson.
4.
As you progress through the course, answer the review questions in the 29 Study Question
Sets and also do the 15 Exercises that are all in the Study Guide.
5.
There will be 25 required written homework assignments from the Study Guide, consisting of
a number of the Study Question Sets and a few of the Exercises. Each completed answer
sheet is to be submitted for grading to the instructor at 1:00 P.M. of the day it is due
(at the beginning of class) - unless otherwise announced.
6.
Always review your previous class notes before the next class.
Assignment Return:
Lessons in the Study Guide will be assigned
Room 57 (basement) HSH
Graded assignments and tests will be returned during class.
Course Bulletin Boards:
Hallway outside Room 32 HSH
Notices will be posted from time to time on the hallway bulletin boards just outside room 32
(basement) HSH. These bulletin boards are just outside Dr. Cameron’s laboratory/office door.
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GEOLOGY 1033, GENERAL OCEANOGRAPHY
Course Outline
(Spring Session, May 8-26, 2006)
Study Guide
Lesson # Exer # SQS #
Lecture Topics
Introduction
Science of Oceanography
Characteristics of the Earth
Composition & Structure of the Earth
Maps and Charts
1
2
8
3
History of Oceanography
4
Instruments and Techniques
Navigation
Research Vessels
Instruments: General & Geological
5
6
7
Marine Geology & Geophysics
Seafloor Physiography & Continental Shelves
Continental Slopes and Rises
Mid-Ocean Ridges & Abyssal Plains
Seamounts, Atolls & Reefs
Deep-Sea Trenches & Physiographic Review
TEST #1
(Friday, May 12, 1:00 P. M.)
9
10
11
12
13
(1-13)
Marine Sediments
14
Important Skeletal Plankton
15
Major Marine Pelagic Organisms
37
Geophysics, Gravity and Seismology
16
Heat Flow, Volcanism and Hydrothermal Vents
17
Marine Volcanism
18
Earth Magnetism
19
Mid-Ocean Ridge Sediments
20
Cont. Drift, Seafloor Spread., Plate Tecton. 21
Chemical Oceanography
Chemical Oceanography & Instrumentation
Composition of Seawater
Variations in Seawater Composition
Origin of Sea Salt
TEST #2
(Friday, May 19, 1:00 P. M.)
22
23
24
25
(14-25, 37)
Physical Oceanography
Physical Oceanography & Instrumentation
Physical Properties of Seawater
Density Structure of the Oceans
Sound & Light in the Sea
Waves
Tides
Coastal Environments
Earth's Heat Budget & Ocean Currents
Surface Ocean Currents
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
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Lecture Topic
Study Guide
Lesson # Exer # SQS #
Biological Oceanography
Biological Oceanography & Instrumentation
Marine Ecology & Productivity
Major Marine Benthic Organisms
35
36
38
Man and the Sea
Coastal Problems & Management
Climatology & Sea-Level Changes
Marine Resources, Pollution & Laws of Sea
32
32
39
(For a more detailed course outline, see pages ix-xv of the Study Guide.)