Introduction to Oceanography

EAS 4300/6124 SPRING 2021

Elba Island, FORNO
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Introduction and overview (week 1)

Topic 1 (August 20):

Introduction to Oceanography - [ PPT ]

Topic 2 (August 22):

What is the best way to observe the ocean? - [ PPT ]
(assign homework #1, ocean exploration)

Topic 3 (August 24):

Early Earth, Oceans, & Life - [ PPT ]
Enrichment reading:  Schopf et al., 2002 Marshall et al., 2011


Marine geology and geophysics (week 2-3)

Topic 4 (August 27):

Ocean floor physiography - [ PPT ]

Topic 5 (August 29):

Plate Tectonic and the origin of ocean basins - [ PPT ]
(assign homework #2, early earth & plate tectonics)

Topic 6 (August 31):

Bathymetry from space and its relevance to oceanography - [ PPT ]
Reading: Satellite Topography and Oceanography - [ PDF ]

Topic 7 (September 5):

Sea Level Changes and Paleoceanography - [ PPT ]

Additional
Reading:
* Palaeoceanography and sea-level changes, Chap. 6;
The structure and evolution of sea basins
, Open University. -
[GaTech Reserve PDF file 70 MB ]

Topic 8 (September 7):

20th century sea level changes - [ PPT ]
 (assign homework #3, sea level change)


Physical oceanography and climate dynamics (week 4-8)

Topic 9 (September 10):

The Atmospheric Circulation - [ PPT ]

Topic 10 (September 12):

The Atmospheric Circulation PART 2 - [ PPT ]

Topic 11 (September 14):

The Atmospheric Circulation PART 3 - [ PPT ]
(assign homework #4 atmospheric circulation)

Special Lecture 12 (September 17):

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico - [ PPT ]
Latest modeling development - [ NSF-website ]

Topic 13-14 (September 19, 21):

The Ocean General Circulation Theory PART I -II - [ PPT1 | PPT2 ]
(assign homework #5 ocean circulation)

Topic 15  (September 24, 26):

The Meridional Overturning Circulation (MOC)  - [ PDF | Polyna.mov ]
Additional reading on MOC review - [ Lozier-2012.pdf ]

Topic 16 (September 28):

Equatorial Circulation, ENSO and Indian Moonsoon - [ PPT ]
(assign homework #5 thermoaline circulation and ENSO )

Topic 17 (October 1):

Ocean Waves | Rossby and Kelvin Waves  - [ PDF ]

Topic 18 (October 3):

Ocean Tides - [ PPT ]

Special Topic 19 (October 5):

Energy from ocean waves  - [ PPT ]
Additional reading - [ Ocean-Energy.pdf ]

Special Lecture  (October 8):

Midterm review   - [ Previous Exams ]

MIDTERM EXAM (covering material through Friday, October 10)

(material will cover until waves excluded)

Special Topic 20 (October 12):

Global Warming and IPCC - [ PPT ]


Chemical oceanography and geochemistry (week 9-11)

Topic 21 (October 17):

Ocean Carbon Cycle: mass balance - [ PPT ]

Topic 22 (October 19):

Ocean Carbon Cycle: carbonate system - [ PPT ]

Topic 23 (October 22):

Ocean Carbon Cycle: solubility pump - [ PPT ]

Topic 24 (October 24):

Ocean Carbon Cycle: biological pump - [ PPT ]

Topic 25 (October 26):

Glacial CO2 problem - [ PPT ]

Topic 26 (October 29):

Stabilizing CO2 emissions - [ PPT ]
Additional reading
- [ Pacala-2004.pdf ]

Topic 27 (October 31):

Geologic Carbon Cycle - [ n/a ]

Topic 28 (November 2):

Oxygen Cycle - [ PPT ]


Biological oceanography (week 12-15)

Topic 29 (November 5):

Marine Ecology, Habitats and Organisms - [ PPT ]

Topic 30  (November 7, 9):

The Marine Ecosystem and Nitrogen Cycle - [ PPT1 | PDF2 ]

Topic 31/32  (November 12, 14):

Marine Life Observing System - [ PDF ]
Reading assignment - [ Block-MarineLife.pdf ]

Topic 33  (November 16):

Climate Change Impacts on Marine Ecosystems - [ PDF ]
Reading assignment - [ Doney-2012.pdf ]

Topic 34  (November 19):

Climate Change & Polar Ocean Ecosystems - [ PDF ]

 Topic 35  (November 21):

Climate Change & Tropical Ocean Ecosystems - [ PDF ]
Reading assignment Coral in Crisis - [ Hay.pdf ]

Topic 36  (November 26):

Natural Climate Variability & Marine Populations PART 1
Pacific Decadal Oscillation, Salmon, Sardines and Anchovies - [ PDF ]
Additional Readings - [ PDO_Ecosystems | PDO_Physics]

Topic 37  (November 28):

Natural Climate Variability & Marine Populations PART 2
North Atlantic Oscillation, Zooplankton and Fish Stocks - [ PDF ]
Additional Readings - [
NAO Table | NAO_Ecosystems | NA1O_Physics]

 

Coastal oceanography (week 12-15)

Topic 38 (November 30):

Shallow Water and Coastal processes - [ PDF ]

Topic  (December 3):

Beaches, Estuaries and Deltas - [ PDF ]

 

Topic Final Review  (December 5, 7):

Review and Final preparation

FINAL EXAM (December 14)

Final Exam on Friday December 14, between 11:30 AM to 2:20 PM
Location is the same as class.


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