GEOL 220 Oceanography

Fall 2019

Instructor: Dr. Diana Boyer

MW 11:00-12:30; SIMS 113C

e-mail: boyerd@winthrop.edu

Office: 212B Sims                                

Office Hours: Tues 9:00-11:00 and by appointment

Course Goals and Learning Outcomes: The goal of this course is to introduce you to the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of our world’s oceans. Through the course of this semester you will begin to understand how vital the ocean is to the balance of our planet and appreciate the dynamic nature of the interplay between ocean, climate, and life on Earth. Upon completion of this course students will be able to:

• Describe the interaction of ocean and atmosphere and understand the ocean’s influence on climate.
• Demonstrate how specific physical and chemical processes operate on different scales in the ocean.
• Explain the distribution of life in the ocean and give examples of major groups of marine organisms.
• Recognize anthropogenic influences on the physical and biological systems in the ocean.

Text: Garrison, Tom, 2012, Essentials of Oceanography, 8^th edition, 298 p.

Grading:

6 quizzes-lowest score dropped 20%

In class/homework assignments 15%

3 exams 45%

Final exam (cumulative) 20%

Blackboard: All grades will be posted on Blackboard, as well as links to relevant information and the PowerPoints from lecture. Please be sure to check in regularly.

Tentative Schedule-subject to change

W Aug 21	Introduction to Oceanography, Why study the ocean?	Chap. 1
M Aug 26	Where do oceans come from?	Chap. 1, 2
W Aug 28	What is the shape of the ocean? Plate tectonics	Chap. 2
M Sept 2	Labor Day-No Class
W Sept 4	A muddy history? What sediments can tell us about the past.	Chap. 3
M Sept 9	Why is water sticky and other fun facts.	Chap. 4
W Sept 11	Who, what and where of ocean chemistry	Chap. 4
M Sept 16	What makes the ocean salty? How do you make an ocean acidic?	Chap. 4
W Sept 18	How do you make the wind blow?	Chap. 5
M Sept 23	What is the most dangerous part of a hurricane?	Chap. 5
W Sept 25	EXAM 1	Chap. 1-5
M Sept 30	Are all hurricanes the same?	Chap. 5
W Oct 2	How does atmospheric circulation influence the ocean?	Chap. 6
M Oct 7	How do you stir up the ocean or is it already well mixed?	Chap. 6
W Oct 9	What is El Niño? What is a wave?	Chap. 6, 7
M Oct 14	NO CLASS
W Oct 16	Can you outrun a Tsunami? How big is a tide wave?	Chap. 7
M Oct 21	What do the edges of oceans look like and why? Why is there sand on the beach?	Chap. 8
W Oct 23	Erosion v. deposition; who will win? How is Myrtle Beach different than LA beaches?	Chap. 8
M Oct 28	EXAM 2	Chap. 5-8
W Oct 30	What is life? Where is life?	Chap. 9
M Nov 4	What are plankton and why do we care?	Chap. 9
W Nov 6	How much energy is in a tuna sandwich?	Chap. 9
M Nov 11	What is an animal? What is a marine community?	Chap. 10
W Nov 13	Who lives at the beach? What is so special about coral reefs?	Chap. 10
M Nov 18	Whale falls and other extreme environments	Chap. 10
W Nov 20	Are there enough fish in the sea?	Chap. 11
M Nov 25	Exam 3	Chap 9-11
W Nov 27	Thanksgiving
M Dec 2	Environmental concerns	Chap. 11
R Dec 5	Final Exam 8 am	Chap 1-11